Kid's Gardening-Kid's First Garden-Fertilizing and Composting

KID'S FIRST GARDEN

Step 7-Fertilizing and Composting
Read information and tips to help you keep your garden growing
healthy and beauitful. Learn about basic garden care such as
fertilizing, and composting.

Feeding the garden organic fertilizer
Fertilizers give plants minerals needed for plant nourishment. Plants
need many different chemical and trace elements for a balanced diet.
Three main ones that are needed for healthy growth are:
Nitrogen- Helps stems and leaves grow strong and healthy
Phosphates-Helps in keep roots healthy
Potassium-Grows healthy flowers. Also known as potash.
Most fertilizers contain all three, and are known as complete fertilizers.
Try organic fertilizer. It is environmentally friendly, and safe for you to
use and make. Organic fertilizer is made from plants, animals, or
minerals which has plant nutrients for fertilizing. One example of an
organic fertilizer is leaf mould. Leaf mould can be made by collecting
fallen leaves from your yard. Place them in a pile in a shady spot in a
garden, or a corner of your yard. Have Mom or Dad help you make a
small chicken wire netting enclosure to put leaves in. It usually takes
a growing season to turn into leaf mould, and should be ready to mix
into your garden next autumn.

Garden compost
Garden compost is used as another natural fertilizer. It is organic
matter that is made from a combination of decomposed yard and
kitchen waste. Composting is the natural decaying of organic matter
done by worms, and micro-organisms. The result of composting will
give you an excellent nutrient-rich filled fertilizer, known as humus or
compost to mix into your garden soil. This helps plants grow healthy,
and improves any soil. Composting is a great way to reduce the
amount of garbage waste, by using up some things you would
normally throw in the trash. Grass clippings, leaves, vegetable and
fruit scraps from the kitchen, and dead plants(NO WEEDS), are just
some examples of organic materials to compost.

Starting a compost pile
First you need something to put the organic material in. A container
called a compost bin is ideal. Some garden centers or garden
nurseries may carry the plastic compost bins.
For faster results, place the bin in a sunny area with good air flow.
The shadier the spot the longer the composting takes. Usually at the
back or side of your yard is best. A store bought compost bin usually
comes with an instruction guide and compost guide, which is a great
help! If you have made your own compost bin, that's great. Just
remember to build it where it will have good air flow and some sun. A
fully enclosed bin is best. This way you won't attract pests such as
rodents. Here is a simple guide to get you started. Start by placing a
layer of chopped hay, broken up twigs from fallen tree branches, or
dead plant stems on the bottom of your compost bin. These types of
organic wastes help to drain moisture out and keep good air flow in
the pile. Now you can add your kitchen scraps and yard waste as you
collect them. Here are some things you can add to the compost pile
-grass clippings, leaves, food scraps, dead plants, lint from the dryer.
Here are some things NOT to put in the compost pile
-bones, meat, or anything dairy, weeds, (cat, dog or human waste),
anything very wet, or big size branches
Try to rotate live(anything green) and brown materials. Layers of dry
leaves, straw, or sawdust in between grass clippings, dead plants or
kitchen scraps is best. Always put twice as much green materials as
the brown materials in each layer. Make sure compost pile is kept
moist. You may need to moisten the pile with a water hose. Every
week the pile should be turned. You may need help from Mom or Dad.
Using a shovel or compost aerator turn the pile so the outside of the
pile gets turned to the inside. Always check moisture when turning the
pile. Add water if it is too dry. Turning is important. It speeds up
composting and saves you from some composting problems that
may happen if not turned enough.
It will take about 4 months or more to make a natural fertilizer from
composting. It should look dark brown to black. The smell is very
earthy. When the compost is ready to use spread it around your
garden plants. Spring is good time to dig it into the soil before
planting flowers or vegetables. Keep composting and you will have a
naturally, healthy, and beautiful garden each growing season.

Artificial Fertilizers
If you don't have room to make your own fertilizer from leaves, or
garden compost, there are other options. If your garden needs
fertilizing, there are artificial fertilizers available from your local
greenhouse, and garden centers. They are easy and fast to use, BUT,
for safety, a parent should be in charge of any feeding schedule, and
all uses of fertilizers. Always follow directions given with any store
bought fertilizers. Ask your local greenhouse what fertilizer would be
best for your garden.

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