Composting & Mulching

Composting and Mulching

Compost is an excellent soil amendment for humus*-hungry New Mexico soils. Composting transforms ordinary garden materials and kitchen scraps into rich dark fertilizer.

Compost and Mulch work well together. Mulching is often essential for gardening success in New Mexico, protecting soils from drying wind and sun in the South and temperature swings in the North. Mulching can also make a big difference in your water bill, reducing garden water usage by up to two-thirds.

There are many different methods of composting, from the classic simple pile to commercial bins -- see the "Composting Methods" page for an overview. "Bokashi Composting", a Japanese method that works quickly and uses no water, is gaining followers in the Southwest -- see that page for details.

* Humus (hyoo-mus) is what gardeners call plant material in the soil.  

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