Extreme heat and drought can be very hard on gardeners because they stress plants and lower crops. However, compost is a strong way to help improve these conditions. Compost can make your garden much more resilient by improving the structure of the soil, making it easier for water to stay in, and making nutrients more available. Below is a guide on how to use compost properly when it is very hot and dry.
1. Learn About the Pros and Cons of Compost
Better structure of the soil: Adding compost to soil makes it more crumbly and lets more air into the soil. For roots to grow, this is very important because it makes it easier for them to get to nutrients and water in the dirt.
Better ability to hold on to moisture: It is possible for compost to keep water in the soil. The organic matter in soil can soak up and hold water, giving plants a place to get water when it’s dry.
More nutrients are available: Compost gives the earth nutrients it needs. Compost provides many nutrients that plants need to stay healthy and can help plants handle stress from heat and drought better as it breaks down.
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2. Using compost to fight drought and heat
Getting the Soil Ready
Forming a company: To a depth of 6 to 12 inches, work compost into the earth before planting. This changes the texture of the earth and makes it better at holding on to water. The compost should be spread out over the earth and should be about 2 to 4 inches thick. The compost should then be mixed in with a garden fork or rototiller.
Dressing on top: Put a layer of soil around the base of plants that are already there. This top dressing helps keep the soil moist, stops water from evaporating, and adds nutrients as the waste breaks down.
Adding compost to mulch
How to Use Mulch: Add two to four inches of compost around the plants and all over the flower bed. This is a layer that keeps the soil cool, keeps water in, and stops weeds from growing. Compost, unlike other mulches, keeps making the earth better as it breaks down.
How to Avoid Overuse: Be careful not to put down too much garbage. If the layer is too deep, water may not be able to get through and fungus problems may happen. Aim for a balanced spread that lets water soak in and gives you the benefits of compost.
Teas made from compost
Getting ready: garbage tea is a liquid fertiliser that is made by letting garbage soak in water for a while. Add a lot of compost to a jar that is full of water to make compost tea. Stir it every so often for a few days to let it steep.
Use :Pour out the solids and use the juice to water plants. Compost tea gives you a quick boost of nutrients and can be especially helpful when it’s very hot or dry.
3. Making the best use of compost
Picking the Right Compost
Quality: Use fertiliser that has been around for a long time. Compost that isn’t fully grown yet may not give you the benefits you want. Find soil that is dark, crumbly, and smells like dirt.
Source:Buy compost from a reputable source if you don’t want to make it yourself. People usually choose organic fertiliser because it doesn’t have any man-made chemicals in it.
Putting Together Different Methods
Common Ways to Water: It’s important to water properly even when using compost. To encourage deep root growth, water less often and more deeply. To keep water from evaporating, don’t water during the hottest parts of the day.
Choosing the Plants: Pick plants for your yard that can handle both heat and drought. Even with soil, plants that are used to being dry will do better and need less water.
4. Things to think about in the long term
Regular Use: The benefits of compost build up over time. Applying compost on a regular basis will keep the soil healthy and improve its ability to hold water and nutrients.
Checking and Making Changes: Check out how the waste changes your garden. If you see any problems, like water not soaking in well or pests eating your plants, you should change how much compost you use.
Conclusion
Composting is a good and long-lasting way to help your garden deal with dryness and extreme heat. By making the soil better organised, keeping more water in, and adding important nutrients, compost makes the garden setting more durable. Whether you use compost as mulch, prepare the soil before planting, or make compost tea, these methods can help your garden grow even in tough conditions. By using compost carefully and on a regular basis, you can make your garden healthy and stronger so it can handle the stresses of bad weather.