Quote:
Did you know it can take up to 10 years for Magnolia tree leaves to fully decompose. So they are never a good idea to use in your compost pile.
Citrus fruits are very acidic and can kill beneficial nematodes and earthworms in your garden, so you don't want to use them as compost.
Some ants in your garden and yard are good. They eat the bad insects as well as aerate your soil for free. However, bear in mind that some ants are always bad, such as fire ants.
Thank you for the great information, Dave. I am going to enjoy your forum!
Our soil here is already very acidic, so I have no fear of composting citrus fruits, skins and all. We need to dump on the dolomite, anyway, since we get such heavy rain throughout the late fall, winter and early spring months. Rain, even when it is not called "acid rain," is actually on the acidic side, which is why all our water, even from our wells here on the coast, is on the low side of the pH scale.
I compost everything, including newspaper, which is also acidic, but also add plenty of ash and dolomite in spring, with very good results.
One thing that people CAN and SHOULD do if they have any questions about their soil, is test the pH. It should be above 7 for optimal results.
Let's see how confusing this can get with two Daves... I went to school with four Daves, and we were all friends... lol.
Dave
|