Ever noticed a sort of white layer on your compost? Often if you look closely you can see a kind of spiders web like coating of branches of grey-white filament. It's not mould in most cases its actually a large colony of bacteria known as Actinomycetes. These are a type of bacteria which can break down
cellulose and lignin (the building blocks of plants) so they are absolutely
fundamental to the composting process.
Interestingly they are also the same group of bacteria which
cause gum disease but you needn't worry about that unless you plan on munching
your way through a pile of compost!
Whilst individual bacteria (if looked at under a microscope)
are rod-shaped they cluster together in colonies and form tree like shaped
patterns leading the (incorrect but widely held for many years) assumption that
they are a type of fungi.
A higher-form
bacteria actinomycetes live in soil naturally but are attracted into your compost heap to feed. Grayish in appearance, they are crucial because they can process some of the more resistant
materials in the pile such as tougher woodier lignin.
They are the bacteria which is responsible for the pleasant earthy smell of compost. As
they reduce materials, they liberate carbon, nitrogen, and ammonia, making
nutrients available for higher plants. Which is exactly what you need to help your garden grow.
