Hi!

I don't have the space for a compost bin, but I've been doing some composting instinctively with an invented technique. I worry it might not be great, but other days I think it's brilliant! Someone told me it sucks the nitrogen out from my soil. I'd love an expert opinion.

I have about 30 gorgeous citrus and sub tropical trees in massive clay containers around my patio and hillside. All have a thick layer of wood mulch on top of the soil.

I keep vegetable scraps, banana peels, and egg shells in a closed container in my large freeze. When the container is full, I use a dedicated blender to blend the contents (usually go a few rounds) with a bit of water, essentially creating a thick smoothie with the waste. I then pour it over the thick mulch covering the soil of my pots, let it drain a bit, and mix it into the mulch layer using my hands and garden gloves. About two days later I mix the mulch around some more. I believe the "smoothie" stays mostly in the mulch layer.

My thinking is that this over time decomposes and nourishes the soil below, perhaps the same as leaves would do, or the same as the wood chips might over time. I also like to think it decompose fairly quickly since the particles are tiny (blended into this "smoothie". I also notice how the earthworms are so happy to come to the surface and feed in the mulch layers.

To my surprise there is no noticeable smell or pests attracted to this. I've been doing this for about 18 months, a couple trees at a time, and just keep the rotation going.

The "waste smoothie", once dried up between the mulch in a day or two, is basically unnoticeable.

Am I feeding my trees and giving my soil beneficial life and nutrients with this technique? Or can this be damaging to the soil and roots? Considering I water these roughly twice a week with deep waterings, a bit less in winter..

is there a name for such a thing?

Or am I instead depleting the top layers of soil of nutrients to get this "waste" turned into "compost" in the mulch on the surface of my pots?

I am so curious to get a solid answer on all this. Would love your thoughts.

FYI I'm in Los Angeles California. I assume our dry, warm climate might help the process above not becoming "pest central" and "stink central".

Is there a better category on Houzz to post this?

Thank you very much!

J.