Composting
Compost is the key to productive soil in much of the US, and warm climates make it fast.
Compost adds the organic matter that sandy, depleted soils lack, the foundation under every good Southern and Southwestern garden. The full how-to lives in our composting guide; here's the short version.
The methods
- Hot: balance greens and browns, keep it damp, turn weekly; finishes in 6-10 weeks in warm weather.
- Cold: pile it and wait; slower but effortless.
- Tumbler: tidy and quick to turn, good for small yards.
- Worm bin: see worm farming for kitchen scraps.
Warm-climate tip: keep piles shaded and moist so the sun doesn't bake them dry. Read the full Florida composting guide for local detail.