Horticulture Agent Talks Compost

BROOKSVILLE - Sandy soils don't hold water too well.

That is why composting becomes so important to Florida landscapers.

That is why so many people packed the room Saturday morning at the Hernando County Cooperative Extension Service office in Brooksville.

John Korycki, a horticulture specialist with the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, spoke for nearly an hour about composting, its purpose and its benefits.

"In Indiana, we always had composting," said Marjorie Riedeman, now of Brooksville. "So far, none of my plants have died since I met (John)."

Composting improves a soil's water-holding capacity and increases its nutrient-holding ability. It also protects the sandy soil from wind and water erosion.

Korycki gave a slide presentation Saturday and discussed a variety of topics related to composting.

There are five fundamental principles - moisture, aeration, temperature, particle size and nitrogen levels.

Compost should be moist, but not soggy. Piles should be regularly turned or mixed to incorporate oxygen. The most effective temperature range for compost is 122 to 131 degrees Fahrenheit.

"You might even get it up to 140 degrees," Korycki told the class. "Compost would be good to get that hot"

The speed of the composting process is increased by the smaller size of the limbs, twigs and wood particles in the mixture. Finally, materials high in carbon (brown limbs, straw, sawdust) will decompose slowly unless a source of nitrogen is added. Anything green (grass, vegetable scraps) is a high source of nitrogen.

Leaves, yard waste, clippings, wood chips, sawdust, manure and kitchen waste all work well in a compost mixture.

Human or pet waste, meat, bones, dairy, diseased plants, chemically treated wood products and plants with pesticides are all bad ingredients, Korycki warned.