The benefits of compost for your garden are numerous. It increases the chances of your plants and flowers being healthy and vigorous, as well as helping your soil retain water and nutrients.
But while ready-made, organic compost is a great purchase for people who want a head start, it can become expensive if you use a lot on a regular basis.
DIY composting is a great way to control household waste, and that’s why more and more people are choosing to go down this route.
Here are just some of the benefits that a good DIY compost can afford:
1. Compost improves soil structure
Compost helps to bind soil particles (known as aggregates) together. This results in a better overall soil structure and that is good news for your plants. Soil structure is important for air, moisture and nutrient retention (as you’ll learn), and gives your plants the best chance to flourish.
2. Compost increases nutrient content/retention
The organic material found in compost is rich in nutrients, and when it gets broken down those nutrients go directly into your soil creating the best fertiliser you’ll ever find. This is due to the fact that compost contains both macro and micro nutrients, elements which are often lacking in synthetic fertilisers.
3. You’ll use less water
With better structure and more nutrients, your soil will invariably be more fertile, and fertile soil holds water far better. Therefore, you won’t need to give your plants as much water, which is something that saves you both time and money. It also helps save the environment by reducing our reliance on water.
4. Your plants will be stronger/healthier
Plants that are grown in soil treated with compost tend to suffer from fewer pests and diseases. More sterile soil, which lacks the important nutrients plants inevitably need, may get overrun resulting in harm to your plants. Healthy plant growth is supported by the bacteria, fungi, worms, insects and more that need the compost to survive.
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