February is like tiptoeing on a tight wire here in Central Texas.  One quick nap for our plants this year and warm weather is tapping them on the shoulder.   

     Our garden didn’t become dormant this year until the last of December.  We had blooms on plants while we celebrated the winter holidays and as a result I felt hesitant to place compost out earlier.  I was concerned with pushing new growth before a good freeze which could lead to damage on the plants.  Now I feel as though I may have waited too late to lay down compost on the garden.  My timing may be lagging but I am going forward with composting nonetheless.  

     Why would I still feel it important?  I want to lessen any erosion of garden soil should we receive rains soon, also water holding capacity will be increased in the garden and lastly,  the refreshing of food for beneficial soil microbes is foremost in my mind.  

This year I am going with pre-bagged compost from companies I feel produce a quality product.  I’m planning to include 3-6 products derived from different sources such as alfalfa meal, composted cow or chicken manure, cotton burr meal, dry molasses, and horticultural cornmeal.  The cornmeal is sort of hard to source but whole ground cornmeal con be substituted.  This mix is simply spread on the surface of the garden then allowed to integrate with time, microbial activity, and rains providing nutrients slowly as the plants ask for it.  These elements are maybe more rich in nutrition than if I had used a compost in early December but the tightrope of swinging temperatures and lengthening days may aid the new growth I see sprouting up.  

     Composting is an extensive subject I plan on studying in depth so at this time I am leaning on the companies I feel good about using.  You should also do research before deciding what to use in your garden.  

     I’ll circle back to let you know how my plan worked out and how our plants grew using this method.