Hands down mushroom compost is an excellent addition to your garden soil. If you are planning to utilize mushroom compost with your organic gardening then let me tell you it is extremely easy for you to accomplish the same in many ways and the best part is it offers plenty of benefits. In this article we will discuss all about mushroom composting, what is it and how can you use it. If these are the questions currently that you may have then do keep reading to receive more clarity.
What is mushroom compost?
It is kind of an organic fertilizer that releases slowly into the soil. This compost is specifically made by people that cultivate mushrooms by utilizing organic materials that include horse manure, poultry, hulls, corncobs, straw, and hay.
The entire process of cultivating mushrooms made the difference a bit between mushroom growers, therefore the recipe to prepare your own mushroom compost may be a tad different in certain places. For example, extra materials like soybean meal, lime, peat moss, gypsum, and many other organic materials can be included in your compost.
As soon as you mix mushroom spawn in the compost, the weed seeds along with numerous harmful agents must be killed by steam pasteurization. A topdressing on your pile must be added which includes lime and sphagnum moss.
The entire process to compost mushrooms takes nearly 3 – 4 weeks. During the entire process, it has to be closely monitored in order to maintain for proper temperatures. Once the entire process is successfully completed, the compost that is leftover is sold like fertilizers or disposed of.
Mushroom compost utilized for gardening
You would easily find mushroom compost as they are sold in labeled bags as SMS or SMC. You can purchase them from your local garden centers or even from a landscape supplier company. Mushroom compost can be utilized in many ways. You can utilize it to amend the soil of your potted plants, gardens, and lawns. But you always have to make sure that you utilize it with great caution because it has high levels of soluble salt. These high levels of salt can destroy germinating seeds and also damage rhododendrons and azaleas.
Advantages of mushroom compost
Mushroom compost offers numerous benefits but has also the disadvantage of high levels of soluble soil. Also, if you happen to check the price tag for mushroom compost, they are relatively inexpensive. Mushroom compost is an excellent way to give your plants a nutritious and healthy diet as it allows you to improve the quality of the soil. It increases the capacity of water holding of your soil, decreasing the requirement for frequent watering.
Most plants find mushroom compost beneficial as it supports numerous kinds of plants ranging from vegetables to fruits, flowers to herbs. If you are looking at getting great results with your organic gardening by utilizing mushroom compost, make sure you mix this compost thoroughly with your garden soil before you can plant your saplings. You can also let it sit during winter and during spring you can apply it.
That’s all for now and I do hope that this article has helped you understand more about mushroom compost and the best way to utilize mushroom compost. See you guys soon!