What is Horticulture?

Horticulture is one of three sciences that comprise modern agriculture, along with agronomy and forestry. The word “horticulture” is broken down into two parts; ‘hort’ meaning garden; and ‘culture’ meaning to cultivate or grow. Horticulture is most easily defined as the science or art of cultivating fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants. There are six smaller sciences that make up the horticultural field including pomology, olericulture, arboriculture, floriculture, landscape horticulture, and post-harvest physiology.

Almost all of the different forms of plant life that we encounter each day are derived from the science of horticulture. The ‘Japanese Maple’ you have in your front yard is a horticultural species, the bouquet of flowers that you are giving to your girlfriend is a product of horticulture, and all of those delicious fruits and vegetables that we enjoy year around are products of horticulture as well. Without horticulture, life as we know it would be dull, dry, and almost tasteless. We need these plants and their productive parts to remain in our daily lives because they contribute so much to our diet, health and aesthetical pleasure.

So whether you are in your garden, greenhouse, or out on the golf-course, please take the time to step back, and capture all of the wonderful things that horticulture does for us today, because without it we would be in a world of trouble.

References: "Horticulture: Principles and Practices" What is Horticulture, pages xxix-xli

Image from: My personal photo collection.

How to Build a Compost Pile...

A major topic concerning both horticulture and environmental science is the proper way to dispose food and landscape wastes. Millions of pounds of food and landscape wastes are hauled away to local waste facilities every year, when it could be perfectly recycled and put back to use. Therefore, this raises the quintessential question, what should we do with our plant wastes? Should we throw them in the trash, or implement them into a healthy and sustainable compost piles?

Compost piles have been utilized since the beginnings of agricultural production. They replenish tremendous amount of nutrients back into the soil, protect the plant's lower portions and root systems from pests, and help keep the soil moist and cool. Below, you will find some basic instructions on how to build and maintain your own compost pile.

Note: Before we tackle the actual construction of the pile, let's be sure on what is compostable material. Acceptable compost pile ingredients include: yard trimmings, such as fallen leaves, grass clippings, flowers and the remains of garden plants. Kitchen scraps, such as fruit and vegetable peels and trimmings, crushed eggshells, teabags, coffee grounds, and filters can all be composted as well. Woody yard trimmings can be run through a shredder, or cut real fine before adding them to the pile.

Instructions:

Start by assembling your compost pile withholding vessel. This can be as simple as a plastic bucket, or as intricate as a structure built with wood, wire and concrete. As long as the vessel is capable of withholding all the ingredients and can accessed rather easily.

1. Start your pile with a layer of browns (shredded), then add a layer of greens (also shredded). Mix the two layers together while adding some moisture (H2O). Note: feel free to add other soils, manures, or other nitrogen sources.


2. Be sure to tarp and cover your pile during warm months to reduce water loss (transpiration). By covering our pile we are preventing excess water from gaining access into the pile, which then would go on to create possibilities for unwanted microorganisms, disease and the persistence of fungi.


3. Over time your compost pile will grow larger and larger, be sure to turn or mix your pile every 3-5 days. This process will speed up the "composting" of the soil and also release a good amount of heat. Do not be alarmed by this!


4. Besides adding ingredients and turning the pile, you should be sure to check to temperature. Using hotbed thermometer, check the interior temperature of the pile, which is at least 12 inches from the soil surface. The temperature should peak between 90-140 degrees F. If the temperature begins to fall, or exceeds 140 degrees F, be sure to turn the pile.


5. Continue monitoring the temperature and moisture of the pile. The temperature will rise as long as there is un-decomposed material that needs to be broken down. Once your turning causes no more rise in temperature, the compost is probably ready to be spread and utilized in your garden or landscape. Look for the compost to be dark, crumbly, and will no longer look like the original materials/ingredients.

These instructions are basic, and can be used by anybody who is interested recycling their plant wastes and lessening their carbon footprint on our environment.

Image from: http://www.peacecorps.mtu.edu/

Polomski, Robert. "Recycled Yard Trimmings: Home Composting" 2003.