Applying Compost to Garden Bed.

[Durgan]

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?YGHNX 24 October 2010 Applying Compost to Garden Bed

This compost is supplied by the city. It was picked up in May 2010, one half yard per day. It was too late to apply in the Spring, so I stored it until Fall and am applying a layer to the garden bed. It is vegetative compost from tree cuttings, and is superb quality. The quantity is about four cubic yards or about 28 wheelbarrows full. This is the only fertilizer that I use. The compost layer will be rototilled into the underlying soil in the Spring.

[gregorach]

I'm with you on the heavy application of compost, but does it really need rototilling? I guess it depends on your soil type and worm population... In my allotment, I just chuck the compost on, spread it out, and leave it to get on with it. Mind you, I have beds and permanent paths, so I don't walk on the growing area at all.

[wulf]

Indeed! Rototilling is likely to reduce the local worm population. I find applying it as a mulch and letting the worms get on with it works well.

Wulf

[Durgan]

My general observation is that the worms require some vegetation for survival. Generally worms are found amongst the roots of weeds, so my choice seems to be weeds or worms, particularly in the vegetable garden. There are many worms in the garden area, but usually in undisturbed areas. Worms have a tough time thriving in rototilled soil.

Usually a red clover cover crop is planted, but this was not done this year. My season is so short that the cover crop has to be planted no later than about the 15 of September, and this is awkward, since the garden is not clear of all the produce.

My choice is cover crop in the Fall, weed whack is not winter killed in the Spring, rototill deep, and then apply compost in the Spring and rototill less deep into the underlying soil.

[roger ramjet]

Another tip is not to dig in or rotovate in fresh or semi rotted organic stuff, like bark, leaves etc as this temporarily reduces the fertility of the soil as it goes through the decomposition process. It is best to let it rot on the surface as a mulch or leave on a compost heap before digging in.

If you are going to leave the ground fallow for some months then it is perfectly ok to dig in.

Roger

[oldjerry]

If your a fan of rototilling, have you thought about sowing the plot with green manure?