Composting

The natural cycle.

Compost is the world’s oldest and most natural form of fertiliser. It can be produced and used in any garden. Unlike peat, compost returns lost nutrients and trace elements to the soil, and revitalises soil life as no other fertiliser can.

A handful of compost contains more living things than there are people on the earth: approximately ten billion organisms. Fertilising your own plants with self-produced compost provides satisfaction in the production of your own fruit and vegetables, in beautiful flowers and tasty herbs.

A good gardener therefore cuts back bushes, shrubs and flowers, knowing that all these valuable resources will not be lost but will soon be made available to the garden as fertiliser or mulching material. A pleasant side effect is that composting also saves money as less waste is produced and less fertiliser needs to be purchased.

If organic materials are shredded, mixed and aerated properly, they decompose to form high-quality fertiliser. The better the composition – the mix of "green" nitrogenous material and "brown" carbon-containing plant trimmings – the better the fertilising qualities and therefore also the compost.

To in-depth helpful tip: Composting with all the tricks of the trade

Helpful tips:

  • Position the compost heap in a semi-shaded area near the house and protected from the wind, ideally with water, a power supply (e.g. for shredders) and a screen.
  • Ensure there is room for at least two, or better, three containers: One for composting, one for finished compost and one for collecting dry plant trimmings.
  • Collect and sort systematically: Collect branches separately from soft plant trimmings and damp material containing earth and protect from rain (cover).
  • Organic, decomposable garden and household material is suitable for composting. The mix of "green" nitrogenous material and "brown" carbon-containing plant trimmings determines the fertilising qualities.

  • The shredding of twigs, branches and flowering shrubs using the VIKING garden shredders increases the surface area of the plant material and promotes decomposition through microbes and decomposition agents.
  • Never pile up large quantities of the same material. Always mix materials (e.g. lawn cuttings with wood chippings). Shredding saves having to turn over the compost.
  • Place the compost containers on the ground, never on stone flags. Protect them against washing out, water-logging and drying out (cover). Remember: aerate adequately.
  • The composting process takes several months, depending on the time of year and the ambient temperature. Compost is the best form of bio-fertiliser. A fungal odour is a sign of maturity.
  • Raw compost is unfinished and contains the nutrients for the plants in an unusable form. However, it promotes soil organisms very well. Raw compost is very good for mulching.
  • Mature compost no longer contains any worms. The nutrients are released and can be absorbed by plants. However, plants should not be planted in finished compost – it must be mixed with soil.

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