Not All Compost is Created Equal

Compost is a great product to use in gardens and flower beds. The United States EPA defines composting as a “controlled, aerobic (oxygen-required) process that converts organic materials into a nutrient-rich soil amendment or mulch through natural decomposition. The end product is compost – a dark, crumbly, earthy-smelling material. Microorganisms feed on the materials added to the compost pile during the composting process. They use carbon and nitrogen to grow and reproduce, water to digest materials, and oxygen to breathe.” Compost as a noun is a rich, organic soil amendment that is typically used for improving soil that is used to plant flowers or crops and supplies nutrients to plants. Compost as a verb is the method of decomposing and stabilizing different types of organic materials (leaves, grass clippings, food scraps, etc.).

Composting at Home

The process of composting is more complicated than throwing food scraps and lawn clippings in a bin. You need a proper balance of carbon-rich materials (called “browns” and includes dry leaves, plant stalks, and twigs), nitrogen-rich materials (called “greens” and includes grass clippings and food scraps), water (moisture), and air (oxygen). The ideal conditions will break down these materials to create an effective compost additive product that is perfect for a variety of gardening and farming needs. Many people opt to compost at home, which can be a rewarding and healthy activity. You can compost green items such as vegetable scraps, most gras clippings, coffee grounds, paper tea bags (no staples) and coffee filters, and eggshells. Brown items include dry leaves and twigs, shredded paper (not colored) and brown bags, shredded cardboard (no coating/glue/tape), and untreated wood chips. You should not compost meat, fish, bones, dairy products, pet waste, cat litter, product stickers, oils, grease, glossy paper, treated wood, aggressive weeds with seeds, diseased or infected plants, large amounts of cooked food, herbicide-treated plants, or dryer lint. The basic process for backyard composting is:

• Determining how you’ll collect and store your “browns” and “greens.”
• Creating space for your compost pile or buying or building a bin.
• Preparing the appropriate ingredients for composting.
• Building the compost pile (layering, proportions, circulation, etc.).
• Maintaining the compost pile (temperature, adding materials, moisture, etc.).
• Harvesting the finished product (no visible scraps – takes about four weeks).

Purchasing Compost

If you’re looking to purchase compost, it’s good to know that not all compost products at the store are of the same quality. You want to look for a special blend of bark fines, black peat, and manure that has been treated to a lower salt content. Top-grade materials should be used in store-bought compost, and you need to ensure it contains no garbage, weeds, or plastic. At The Dirt Bag, we have a dark, rich mountain compost that is high in nutrients. It breaks down heavy soils and is an ideal amendment for many uses. It’s important to not plant directly into compost, but rather mix about one inch to every four inches of soil. For all your compost-related questions (and more!), come chat with our experts.