Beginner Gardening: I need a little encouragement!, 1 by sym9

sym9 wrote:
LisaOliver,

Seems to me the best thing that you could do to help amend your soil problem is with compost. This is not a hard as most people would try to make it seem. Just by using all and I mean ALL, of your organic materials. Within two to three weeks of persistent tending, you could actually have some ready. It just depends on what you want to put into it. I have two bins, one for my primary compost that I turn and water every other day.
The other is a finished product that is ready to use where ever I might have a need. If you have access to Horse manure, next to bat guano, this is one of the better mediums to use to help break down your compost quickly; after you turn your compost over, place the manure on top, then water.
Using compost in your gardens is a better organic way to assist your plants and helps them to be more pest, and disease resistant so you are less apt to have to rely on Mass Market Chems.
My best suggestion is to purchase

“The Rodale Book of Composting: Easy Methods for Every Gardener (Paperback) by Grace Gershuny”.

This book has tons of tips to help you bring your garden or yard up to peak production. Check on Amazon and you might be able to buy an new or used copy for around $5.00 (note: all their books have a $3.99 mailing fee [flat rate USPS])

Wish you the best with your garden.