Composting weeds and leaves in containers
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- čas přidán 12. 03. 2021
- I was inspired by Robbie from Robbie and Gary Gardening Easy channel to try composting weeds and leaves in containers.
I think this is a good way to build soil health and life in containers.
I thought I was the only one taking the time to do this
Nope! I love this method. Way more convenient.
I did the same as you, after watching Robbie. She says do it how you want.
Yeah, this worked out well for me. Thank you for watching.
That is a good idea to use the trash can as a sifter. I actually have a sifter on my wishlist, but I have that trash can and I don't use it. Fantastic! I also love the idea of using the weeds for composting. I don't think I can do the worms because it is way too hot for them to be in a container. New sub. 👍😀🌱🌻🌼🌷
If you use an fine mesh strainer in combination with the trash can you could probably take the sifter off your wishlist lol. I think if the containers are kept moist and cool, the worms will be fine. That's why I put the pots on top. I'd have no choice but to keep it that way. I'm hoping itll attract more in the process. Thank you for watching and subscribing!
Looks good!!
Thank you!
I have used those trash cans to cover my yard pot plants to keep my husband's dog out of them. It helps sometimes. Although from time to time she still tries to eat the metal trash can. If you put a kitchen drawer knob on bottom its cute.
The sap thing can be TERRIBLE. I went to our local garden store. I don't recall the plant name, just that it had cobalt blue flowers. I picked the pot up & placed it on my hip to carry around. The flowers grazed my chin & unknowingly so did the sap. For about 2 weeks I looked like I had burned my face. No joke. It was miserable.
I enjoyed the video!
Thank you! Just seeing this comment, sorry for the late response. Using the wire trash cans to protect plants from pets and other animals is a good idea. But from what I've seen/read here on the internet, nothing can protect people's strawberries! Lol somehow any animal/critter will make its way to it no matter what!
I'm gonna have to look that flower up so I can be on alert! How did you treat your face?
YES! The Vesma video that I have been waiting for! I am a bit of a composting fanatic, but since I primarily grow edible plants I do not typically compost weeds. But your previous videos have really changed my mind about weeds in my flowering plants - so I will not be so picky about them in the futrue. Yes, dandelion is edible, if you call boiling it then choking it down with lots of vinegar edible. I prefer the roots to the tough, fibrous leaves. When I was a boy my mom cooked lots of wild plants like dandelion. I learned a little about medicinal plants that way, but I will have to be mighty hungry to cook and eat dandelions again - LOL
Yeah, thank you for the great idea of sifting top soil. I also get frustrated with all the wood chips and cheap filler. Sorry, I have no stories of irritating plant sap.
As far as worms - did you buy those or find them in the soil? I have tried purchasing worms from the hunting/fishing store and throwing in them my compost, but I don’t know if they make any difference. I get a real thrill out of grinding up food and yard scraps, mixing it with the desert clay caliche in my yard, watering it, turning it, mulching it and watching it all miraculously turn into rich, stinky, beautiful soil. I compost in a giant homemade bin in my front yard and I love when the worms and grubs just appear out of nowhere. Yeah, my neighbors love me LOL
Joe, I have tried composting 2 different ways and in my eyes, have been unsuccessful with one. This method seems a lot easier for me!
The "unsuccessful" way, I poked holes in a big cardboard box, layered in grass clippings, leaves, and coffee, watered and turned occasionally. Based on the many videos I watched, I was under the impression it'd start breaking down over the months, even during winter, but nothing happened and it was just a mess. I also have leaves and grass clippings sitting in a trash bag.
Have you ever heard of or tried dandelion wine? I'm not interested in eating it, but a wine does sound more interesting lol
The worms, I found in soil. I've thought about buying some, but heard that store bought ones die. I don't want to waste $, so I decided I'd try to attract them naturally.
You grind all of your scraps up? Thanks for the idea! Does that speed up the process? Do you also compost in ground? If your neighbors are wise they'd be asking for tips or to buy bags of your compost LOL!
@@vesgardens - that is fascinating, because every time I have tried composting in a cardboard bin I have the same experience as you - just a bit mess. The scraps do not rot, rather they get moldy and if that happens your compost is no good. I do not trust mold at all. Yes, I compost in the ground, so I am sure to get plenty of worms and grubs burrowing in, and you really need those little guys to chew up the food scraps - I made three giant wooden bins measuring 2 1/2 feet high, 14 feet long and 3 feet deep. I rotate every year, 2 for garden, 1 for compost. I am just teasing about my neighbors, they think I am a little odd for gardening in the front where everybody can see, but I would rather do that than constantly fighting to save a half dead lawn like everybody else LOL. I give my neighbors treats from my garden every Thanksgiving, so I don't think they mind my compost too much. I do not compost in the winter, since the scraps do not decompose at all - but I will be starting up again soon. Basically I do what you do - all my kitchen scraps gets buried, occasionally water it, turn it, but my secret weapon is alfalfa. I buy a bale of alfalfa every spring from the local feed store and use it to mulch the compost. After a week or so, I turn the layer of alfalfa into the compost then put on a fresh layer and just repeat every week. Don't tell anybody - it's my secret! LOL but it works in compost like magic. One year I tried grinding my tough food scraps like old carrots into a blender before adding to compost and yes, it definitely sped up the decomposition! But it was a lot of extra work, so I stopped doing that - these days I just throw the tough stuff in a bucket and chop it into small pieces with a shovel. Dang, sorry I typed so much - I really should think about making my own composting video LOL. No, I have never heard of dandelion wine - but who can say no to something like that? LOL
@@JosephFrancisBurton When you compost in the ground do you spread lime or anything on top of it to cover the smell and deter animals from digging it up? I have only been putting dead plant material in the ground. I've buried food scraps once, but I forgot exactly where, but obviously deep enough that nothing has dug up that area. I want to use food scraps, but don't want to attract animals that'll ruin everything. Trying to keep that to a minimum!
LOL @ constantly fighting to save a half dead lawn. I don't see lawns the same anymore. I look at other people's yards and visualize what could all could be done with that space and smh.
Adding alfalfa to my list or, at least the seeds. Have you ever added mycorrhiza to your compost or used mushroom compost? Don't apologize for typing to much! I appreciate thoughtful, insightful comments no matter how long!
I'm encouraging you to make a composting video! I'm definitely interested in that and your nature walk/hikes if you choose to share!
@@vesgardens - I live in the southwestern desert, and it always cracks me up when I see somebody try to maintain a lawn here. I have never had a front lawn - just not part of our local culture - it is just too valuable space for a garden LOL. I have never heard of those different styles of compost, but I shall look into it. The only problem I have with animals is neighborhood cats who like to use my garden space as their own personal bathroom. A lining of chicken wire does the trick. Compost has never attracted animals, and I have lived pretty far in the country. The only time wild animals became pests was when I had a few dozen chickens - all kinds of critters love those yummy eggs, and I cannot count the number of times I found my chickens attacked by skunks, racoons, coyotes, possums, etc etc ... I am away on business travel right now, but I will be starting up my gardening and composting when I return home in a couple of weeks. If I can figure out an easy way to do it, I may video something..!!
I do have lots of experience with toxic saps let me tell ya!
Not from plants though. Sorry
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