So I just read an interesting article concerning changes in pH in the soil during the winter. , soil pH values tend to be higher than during the growing due to decreases in soluble salts, CO2 concentrations and absence of nitrogen fertilizer.
If you're planning early spring planting due to this information then you'll need to add something earlier in the season to the soil that will decrease the soil pH long before planting begins especially if you plan to plant acid loving plants. Your best bet is to treat the soil throughout the winter months by adding more nitrogen to the soil that will not only decrease the pH but will also assist in breaking down matter over the winter to add more composite to the soil.
For those of you that have the mistaken belief that pine straw can lower pH in the soil you may want to read up on the effects of fallen pine straw on soil. The actual pH affect is negligible. Mostly not enough to even warrant consideration. Finding green matter to break down is a much better choice but unfortunately that matter is extremely hard to find during the winter months. The better and easier option is kitchen composting. All that left over material in your kitchen you've been wasting by just flagrantly tossing that material in the trash is a huge mistake. That so called trash is golden .
Just take a quick second and think about it. The amount of trash in your bin will absolutely decrease by a large volume and you won't have to worry about the smell.
Now here's where the standard composting model differs. Instead of making or building a compost " bin " , take the compostable material and bury it in your garden area. This in turn will benefit your garden in multiple ways.
1) It can decrease your soil pH
2) it can add perfect composite material to your soil composition once broken down over the winter.
3) it can draw in worms to your garden area that will benefit your garden soil ten fold by turning poor soil into rich soil with worm castings. It's like the field of dreams concept " build it and they will come " except with this one it's more bury it and they will come. It's a win win for you , your plants and the worms which make such a wonderful environment for your plants.
As far as what to compost just check out one of the older videos I did on what to compost
https://youtu.be/SUiHPYEbThI
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No need to waste time and/or money like you're doing . Start composting today .
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