Just found this board today, while looking for a solution to the ant problem in the compost pile.

I'm pretty new to all this and am looking forward to learning.

AMG, Welcome the Organic Forum. Feel free to look around, ask questions, or answer any questions. Or maybe just post some your experiences. We look forward to your posts. You will learn so much, like the rest of us have.

Thanks.

I just began composting willy-nilly back in November. We bought a house last year and there is nothing in the yard but some trees (including a few dead ones!), rocks by the bajillions (love that Texas limestone - wugh), dirt and a lot of weeds. It was a rent house for years & years & no one cared for the yard. We spent most of the summer sifting dirt to get the top layer of rocks off. Now I'm trying to get the ground a bit more even and trying to figure out how best to seed it for grass. Being broke doesn't help much, :lol

I started the compost pile when I found some chicken wire in our storage unit. Then just started piling leaves & dumping kitchen stuff (no meat, no dairy, etc.). So far it seems to be going OK. I just finished splitting it into two piles, so that I can keep one going while the bulk of what I have finishes - I'd like to have some useable compost come sprig & it seems like the kitchen stuff takes a while to break down. I'm by no means fanatical about this - just giving it a go because it's something I've always wanted to try. Although I have been known to steer houseguests away from dumping "good stuff" in the trash

Good for you. Glad to hear you have entered the world of composting.
Your garden, flowers, grass and shrubs will do so much better with the compost. I usually start a new batch of compost in the fall and let it cook over winter, then till it into the garden in the spring.

One good thing about renters is they rarely put ANY money into landscapes, including any chemicals. So enjoy your blank canvas.

Make sure your trees have their root flares exposed. If the tree looks like a telephone pole you need to carefully dig around the base until you find the trees "feet" or "shoulders".

Where do you live? Many cities now have recycles centers with free mulch. Richardson is one. This is a great place to get organic material. In fact if you put it all over your yard bermuda grass would very likely move into it. Bermuda loves mulch.

Congrats on buying your home. Welcome to the forum!

Howdy AMG and welcome.

Lots of good info available to you here from a lot of interesting and knowledgeable folks.

I'd like to make a suggestion if I may. Add some info and/or data to your profile so we know of your intersts, occupation, location, signature to your posts....stuff like that.

Other than that, you're good to go. Enjoy your new house and landscape....you're first?

Zipper, I'll update my profile now - I was a little eager to get to reading the forums

Yes, this is my cherry yard I have a general idea about what I want to do, but am limited in time and funds, so I try a little this, a little that....I do, however, wish I had a magic wand to make all the blasted little rocks go AWAY