Why Use Compost? Compost Quality 1. On the Lawn

Why Use Compost?
If you use compost, you can save time
and money. Compost improves low quality
soils by adding organic matter and nutrients.
Plants grown in good soil are healthier and
have greater resistance to diseases and
insects. By greatly reducing the need for
pesticides and fertilizers you save money.
Plants grow healthier and using fewer
synthetic pesticides and fertilizers also
reduces your risk of contaminating drinking
wells, local streams, ponds, and lakes.
Compost use can:
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6.
prevent erosion.
improve moisture retention.
reduce the need for fertilizers.
suppress soil-borne plant diseases.
be less expensive than topsoil.
divert a valuable resource from the
waste stream.
How to Use Compost at Home
Compost has many valuable applications
around the house. Brief descriptions of each
application are in this brochure.
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9.
On the Lawn
For Potted Plants
Tree and Shrub Planting
In the Garden
As Mulch
Improving Soil Quality
Starter Mixes
Make Compost Tea
Plant Disease Suppression
Compost Quality
The compost you use should be of good
quality whether it was purchased or produced
yourself. Good quality compost is mature. It
will not reheat if you add water to it or turn it.
It should be a dark color, of humus-like
quality, and have a pleasant soil smell.
If you produce your own compost, you
can make sure it is of good quality by
controlling what you put in it, using
the right mix of greens and browns,
and keeping the moisture level at
that of a damp sponge. Meat, dairy
and greasy foods should be avoided. Also,
avoid items such as diseased plants and pet
feces. High temperatures are needed to kill
pathogens and weed seeds.
When purchasing compost, it is best to
buy from companies with known feedstocks
(ingredients).
There are currently no
requirements for labeling compost and few
regulations regarding compost quality. Good
compost companies will provide the buyer
with typical analyses of finished compost. Of
particular importance in compost are the pH
and the salt content. If the pH level or salt
content is high, it can stunt plant growth.
Do not use compost made from
municipal sludge or biosolids for food gardens
unless it has consistently tested free of heavy
metals and pathogens. When used on nonfood items, application rates should not
exceed 4 cubic yards per 1,000 square feet
unless another rate has been determined safe
by the testing. This limit has been established
to minimize environmental risks.
1. On the Lawn
3. Tree and Shrub Planting
To establish a new lawn, put 4 to 6
inches of compost on the soil and till it to a
depth of 5 to 8 inches. For an existing lawn,
apply a thin layer (1/8 - 1/4 inch) of fine
compost on the lawn and water it well. This
can be done at any time of the year. It will
improve nutrient levels and reduce watering
needs. To fill in bald spots create a mixture
that is 30% compost, 60% topsoil and 10%
grass seed. Then spread a 2 - 4 inch layer
over the bald spot and water thoroughly.
Nutrient run-off is a big problem in many
watersheds. Too many nutrients
cause overgrowth of plants in
rivers and lakes.
Though
farming can have a significant
effect, studies have shown
that homeowners add large
amounts when they use synthetic fertilizers.
Healthy soils from compost use can reduce or
eliminate the need for additional fertilizers.
Mix compost with soil from the hole for
planting the tree. The mixture should be
about 1/3 compost and 2/3
native soil. Use this to fill in
the bottom of the hole around
the root ball, then water.
2. For Potted Plants
Potting soil can be made with 1/4 to 1/3
finished compost and the rest
sterile soil or sand. You can also
sprinkle a thin layer of compost
over house plant soil to add
nutrients. This is also excellent to
correct drainage problems in soils
that have cracked or pulled away
from the container.
Do not put plants in pure compost.
Plants need coarser particles such as sand and
soil in order to root properly.
4. In the Garden
Add compost to your garden each year
in spring or early summer before planting.
Till the soil to a depth of 5 to 10 inches.
Apply 4 inches of compost on top of the soil
then till it again to mix it. If the soil is very
poor, you can add more. Don’t worry about
adding too much compost. Compost
releases nutrients slowly and
continuously and will not
damage plants. Throughout
the growing season you can
add a sprinkle of compost mixed with soil as
a top dressing. You can also apply a couple
inches of unfinished compost in the fall to be
tilled in the spring.
5. As Mulch
In early summer put a 2 to 6 inch layer
of coarse compost on soil around
trees and plants for a mulch.
This will help conserve water,
protect against soil erosion, and
weeds.
Compost made from woody
materials works best. The mulch should not
be spread directly against the tree trunk.
Apply a 2 inch layer about 6 inches from the
trunk and out past the drip line.
6. Improving Soil Quality
8. Make Compost Tea
Adding compost to clay soils will lighten
the soil allowing more water and air to
circulate through it. This is important for root
growth. Compost can also be added to sandy
soils to increase the water holding capacity
and provide essential nutrients. Spread a 4
inch layer of compost and till it 5 to 8 inches
into the soil. Doing this for several years will
produce a rich, humic soil
Compost tea is very beneficial for plants.
It provides them with all the
nutrients and microorganisms
of compost that can suppress
soil diseases.
To make
compost tea you will need a
large bucket, a cloth sack and
some rope. Put some compost
into the sack and tie the
opening shut with rope. Place
the sack into a bucket of water and let it steep
for a few hours or days until the water is the
color of a light tea. Use it to water house
plants or your garden. However, compost tea
does not have a long shelf life. Do not try to
store it for long periods, or it will become
anaerobic and less beneficial for your plants.
Compost tea is also known to cause disease
suppression when sprayed on plants.
7. Starter Mixes
High quality, mature compost can be
used in starter mixes because it is sterilized
during the composting process at high
temperatures. Create your own mix using
compost, either purchased or from your home
composter. An easy recipe is,
1 part mature sifted compost
2 parts soil
1 part sand, perlite or vermiculite
Make sure the ingredients are well
mixed. If there is a question about pathogens
or insects in the soil or compost, the mixture
can be sterilized by moistening it and heating
it in the oven at 200 degrees for one hour or
in the microwave for 10 - 15 minutes (to 180
degrees.) This may produce an objectionable
odor. If the compost is known to be a good
quality, add it after sterilization so it retains
the good microbes.
Resources:
Check with your local solid waste district or
committee for local resources and composting
classes.
The UVM /Extension Master Gardener
Program: http://pss.uvm.edu/mg/mg/
The Master Gardener Helpline: 1-800-639-2230
Summer hours: Monday-Thursday 9am-noon
& 1pm-4; Friday 9 am-noon.
Compost Uses
Every
Homeowner
Should Know
The Rodale Book of Composting, The Rodale
Press, Emmaus, Pennsylvania, Chapter 12. ©
1992
Backyard Composting, Harmonious Press,
Sebastopol, California, Chapter 6. © 1992
Prepared by the:
9. Reduce Pesticide Use
A benefit of using compost is plant
disease suppression. In order to have disease
preventing properties, compost must be stable
and well decomposed but not overly aged. It
is believed that in some plants, compost
activates disease resistant genes.
The
microorganisms in compost are antagonists to
plant pathogens as well. Soils lacking
organic matter have low energy reserves for
microorganisms and are susceptible to
developing soil-borne diseases. Healthier soil
means healthier plants,
which reduces the need for
pesticides.
103 South Main Street
Waterbury, VT 05671-0404
802-241-3448, [email protected]
with assistance from
The NEBHE New England
Environmental Internship Program:
http://www.nebhe.org/env.html
For more information about composting,
compost use, and compost companies in
Vermont,
go to the ANR web page at
www.anr.state.vt.us/compost.
Clipart Courtesy of the United States Compost Council and
other web and program sources.
State of Vermont
Agency of Natural Resources
Compost Center