Gardeners who have regularly used compost in their gardens know the benefits of compost. The addition of compost to the soil reduces the need for fertilizer, conserves soil moisture, and may actually help in disease control. The possible reduction in disease problems is another excellent reason to begin your own compost pile. A word of warning, before adding your own compost to the garden, make sure it is mature and fully composted. Immature compost pulls nitrogen away from plants until it is mature. Also, do not add diseased plant material to the compost pile. Compost science and soil microbiology are just beginning to unlock the secrets of compost's actions.
This article originally appeared in the June 9, 1995 issue, p. 81.
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