HomeMy Public PortalAboutComposting Helps Plants (PDF)COMPOST HELPS PLANTS SURVIVE DROUGHTS
There are many good reasons to compost, composting helps hold moisture in
the soil, which can make the difference between life and death to plants during
drought conditions. You can reduce your yard waste by as much as 50 percent
by composting your leaves, grass clippings, garden debris, fruit peels, vegetable
scraps, tea bags, coffee grounds, egg shells, paper towels, napkins and even
paper bags. It's easy to make compost, and Watertown makes it even easier by
offering rodent -resistant home composting bins for $40.00, over 50% off the
retail price.
To obtain a compost bin contact the Department of Public Works at 617-972-
6420. The department requires a 24 hour notice prior to pick up. Personal
checks should be made out to the Town of Watertown, cash payments and
money orders are also accepted. The Earth Machine has a capacity of 11 cubic
feet, the equivalent of about 4 bags of leaves. It has a sliding door at the bottom
for removing compost and a locking lid. It is made from 50% post -consumer
recycled plastic.
The compost bins help hold in heat and moisture, keep animals out, and look
more attractive than open compost heaps. Organic material will start to turn to
compost in the bins in 3 to 6 months. Compost, known as "black gold" to
gardeners, replenishes nutrients in the soil, helps retain moisture, makes the
soil easy to work, and helps plants resist disease. Compost makes plants healthy
so they can overcome adverse conditions without pesticides or chemical
fertilizers. Leaves are an important ingredient of a compost pile. Without them,
a compost pile may become too wet and create odors. If you have leaves
available, use them to start your compost heap buried under about 6" of leaves,
where they will decompose odorlessly. If leaves are in short supply, add plenty
of paper towels, napkins and torn up paper bags to provide the necessary
carbon, and always bury your food scraps under this material.
WATERTOWN MAKES COMPOSTING EASIER
Many of us are wondering what to do with all the leaves and yard waste we
have at this time of the year. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental
Protection banned disposal of leaves, yard waste and grass clippings because it
is more environmentally sound to recycle them through composting than to put
them in landfills or incinerators. It is also against the law to burn leaves or to
dump yard waste into wetlands, streams or ponds.
Did you know that yard waste, which we tend to think of as "waste", can be
turned into an organic product that can help lawns and gardens survive
droughts? Yard waste isn't trash, it's a resource. There are several options for
managing it that are easy, good for the environment. Compost it in your
backyard or use it as mulch around shrubs, in gardens and wooded areas.
Watertown collects leaves and yard waste for composting. Place yard waste in
paper leaf bags or open barrels at the curb by 7:00 AM. Yard waste should be
free of plastic, metal, glass and other contaminants. Watertown residents may
also drop off yard waste at the recycle center currently located on Grove Street.