Compost tea instead of compost?

12 years ago

Last year, I put top-dress about 3 cubic yard of compost into the yard. This year, I did a soil test and it registered 7.4% organic material, which is pretty high.

I had plan to dump another 3 cubic yard of compost, but I wonder if I can do compost tea instead. If I already have a lot of organic material, putting more on top probably won't help that much. Besides, I could probably make compost tea with less than 3 cubic yard of compost.

Where do you buy compost tea equipment by the way? I tried asking my garden store, but they asked why I was making tea from compost to drink...

Paul

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Comment (1)

Kimmsr
12 years ago
The optimal level of soil organic matter ranges from 5 to 8 percent, so at 7.4 you have a good level and not one I would start thinking I needed to stop adding OM yet.
Compost teas can help if the soil is not good and healthy and the plants need a boost, but if the soil is good and healthy and the plants are growing strong and healthy spending your time and energy making compost tea is unnecessary.
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I'm a lazy composter. I have two bins in the garden and will probably do a third. I fill one all winter, mostly with kitchen stuff, top it off with grass, newspaper and whatever else in the spring. Water it well all summer and then let it sit for another year. I don't turn it, that would be too much work. Just water it the following summer and then that fall take the bottom stuff. Usually about 3/4. Most of it is broken down. I should probably layer more but went it is -30 out who wants too. The plants don't seem to mind. Cheryl
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The amount of organic matter that you're shooting for will vary depending on the situation, the plant type, and who you ask but a pretty good rule of thumb is 5 to 6% by dry weight. If you put out steamed bone meal at a relatively aggressive rate of 15 lbs. per 1000 sq. feet, that would only boost the organic content by about 0.003%, or three one thousandths of one percent. That is, of course, before it even breaks down and some is lost to leaching, volitalization, plant uptake, etc. So the answer is yes but not much. Like Kimmsr, I too would top dress with compost.
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Compost tea instead of compost?

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Kimmsr

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