What If You Don't Make Compost, What Then?

Pick up any gardening book and you might be forgiven for thinking that if you don't make compost you can't grow plants in a garden. Of course, in reality this is an exaggeration; the choice is not so stark. Nevertheless, there is still a consensus which believes home made compost is necessary to improve a soil's structure and water retention properties. Well. Take it from me: It's not.

There are other ways to improve soil structure, and even to nourish plants. And I'm not talking about compost bought in from a local authority, or spent mushroom compost, or even composted horse manure. Of course, all these have their uses. And you will know the latter is a particular favourite of mine; it's absolutely wonderful for flowers, if applied early enough*.

No. I'm talking about the old multi-purpose and ericaceous composts sitting outside in pots and containers. And I'm talking about the old lawn rakings which I suggested you bag up. Each of these makes an excellent soil conditioner and will help all soils hold onto far more water and nutrients.

And don't forget that every time you put bedding plants in your soil, you are adding multi-purpose compost. It all adds up. And it's extremely beneficial. This is because it's not the soft green plant material which builds humus (essential to build soil structure). No. It's the old woody (containing lignin) material and other such almost indigestible stuff - which is very difficult to break down, even in a normal compost heap - which makes humus. And you don't need much of it. Just a little can work wonders on a difficult soil (sand or clay).

JUST BURY IT ALL
What hardly anyone mentions is that the soil can make its own compost. It's Nature's own waste disposal system. If waste material is buried (best to chop it up a bit first), and provided there is some free nitrogen and moisture in the soil (there is in most), soil fungi can get to work making humus through enzyme action (soil bacteria will also break down the other stuff, as well).

WHY ADD HUMUS
Humus in soil not only improves water holding capacity, but also imparts an electrical property called a 'cation exchange capacity', which allows soil to hold on to nutrient ions (because they possess an opposite electric charge), which might otherwise be lost through leaching. Its sticky nature will also bind the smaller soil particles into crumbs, thus aiding drainage and aeration.

* If horse manure is stacked (at least 1 metre square stack), then watered and turned every other day, it will break down into fine compost within a couple of weeks. As the stack cools down (it can reach 85 degrees Centigrade[**] (185 degrees F)), it will begin to cure and remove any excess ammonia. When the now dark straw is about half-covered with white actinomycetes, no smell of ammonia should remain. In this state, it can be used on plants at any time of year, either in the garden or in pots.
[** Need a larger stack to do this. Ideally, stack should be at least 2 metres wide, and 1.5 metres high. This will help keep the heat in whilst allowing some aeration. ]