Watering the lawn is a basic part of lawn care, but you'd be surprised at how many homeowners get it wrong.  They are unaware of their lawn's actual water requirements, thinking that more is better.  They are oblivious to the way that watering affects root growth, assuming that a frequent sprinkling will produce a greener lawn.  But water is a valuable resource and it's important to use it thoughtfully.  Here are some tips for watering your organic lawn the right way. How much water does the typical grass lawn need?  If you are growing the appropriate type of grass for your climate, then one inch of water per week is sufficient to keep it healthy.  In many areas, this amount can be provided by rainfall alone for at least part of the growing season.  Supplemental watering is necessary only when there isn't enough rain to meet water requirements.  Instead of automatically turning on the sprinkler every Tuesday, stop and consider whether your lawn truly needs a drink.  This simple change of perspective will save water. When it's necessary to give the lawn some water, it's best to water deeply and slowly.  It's pointless and wasteful to stand outside and spray the grass ...

Keeping moisture levels in a working compost pile within a specific range is critical for proper decomposition.  The rule of thumb you often hear is that the materials should feel damp but not soaked, like a wrung-out sponge.  However, the pile can sometimes dry out or become waterlogged.  Either of these conditions will affect the composting process in a negative way.  Here are some tips for maintaining the optimum level of moisture in your compost pile. First, let's talk about why moisture content is a concern.  Too much moisture can turn the compost into a smelly mess.  When this occurs, it's because oxygen is no longer getting into the pile.  The microorganisms that need air have died off and a different type of bacteria has taken over.  These "anaerobic" bacteria can decompose material without oxygen, but they produce foul-smelling gases in the process. On the other hand, if there is too little moisture in the compost pile, the microorganisms don't have the water they need to operate.  They die off and the rotting process slows right down.  If it seems like nothing is happening with your compost, lack of moisture could be the reason. Your main challenge is getting the right amount of ...

You probably already know that adding compost to your garden is an ideal way to replenish the soil.  Plants always use up organic matter and nutrients as they grow.  These important soil elements should be replaced each year so that your plants continue to thrive.  But here's a question for you: Should you add compost to the garden in the spring or the fall?  In fact, you can do it either way, depending on the circumstances.  Let's look at why you might choose to spread compost in either the spring or the fall. Fall application of compost Suppose you've been making compost all spring and summer and you now have a gigantic pile that you want to put to good use.  When it comes to adding large amounts of compost to the garden, autumn is the best season for the task.  Anytime after the first hard frost is fine - just make sure you add it before the ground is frozen. The ideal way to incorporate large amounts of compost into the garden is mix it into the soil, by hand or by machine.  If that sounds like too much work, it's perfectly acceptable to just spread the compost over top of the ...

Compost is a versatile natural substance that can benefit any yard or landscape.  Experienced gardeners have all kinds of tricks for using this nutrient-rich organic matter as a soil amendment, fertilizer, and mulch.  If you find yourself with a lot of the stuff, you may be looking for things to do with it.  Here are some suggestions on how to use compost effectively in your garden. For general soil improvement, spread one to four inches over the entire growing area in the fall or spring, mixing it thoroughly into the top twelve inches of soil.  Well-decomposed compost also makes an excellent mulch material.  When spread in one- to six-inch layers around the base of plants, it provides nutrients, controls weeds, stabilizes soil temperature, and reduces the need for watering. Before you plant a new lawn, till a two-inch layer of well-decomposed compost into the soil.  A top dressing of screened compost will also nourish an existing lawn.  It's best to apply it in the fall or spring after aerating the lawn. When building new garden beds, mix four to eight inches of compost into the soil before planting anything.  Existing annual flowerbeds can be kept in growing shape with the incorporation of one ...

Enriching the soil with compost is perhaps the single most important action you can take to improve the health and productivity of your garden.  Recycling plant debris and kitchen waste into nutrient-rich compost is also a smart way to do something good for the environment.  With all the positive things you've heard, you can't wait to build your own compost heap.  Here are some tips for getting started with composting. First of all, decide on a spot for your compost pile.  The spot should be somewhere that gets sun for much of the day.  It's often convenient to put the compost pile near the garden area and near a source of water.  Buy a compost bin or make one yourself by hammering cedar posts into the ground and wrapping wire mesh around them.  Throw a few handfuls of sticks or twigs on the bottom to elevate the pile and allow air to circulate. Now, you can begin to add the ingredients.  Put in a thick layer of dried leaves, shredded paper, or straw.  These are carbon-rich materials known as "browns."  Follow this with a layer of fresh grass clippings, garden trimmings, or kitchen scraps (no animal products or oils).  These are nitrogen-rich ...