What is compost?

Compost is made up of decomposed, or broken down, organic matter. Under the right conditions, microorganisms break down leaves, grass clippings, pine cones, twigs, kitchen scraps, and other detritus materials naturally. These microorganisms are everywhere in our environment, and in short, the work of these microorganisms frees up trapped nutrients within the waste materials mentioned above. The finished compost elixir is an earthy-aromatic and nutrient-rich medium that is teeming with beneficial microorganisms. Compost is nature’s rejuvenation solution for healthy soils and vigorous vegetation growth.

What are the benefits of applying compost to a lawn?

Adding compost to your lawn will help to build a good soil structure. Healthy grass is dependent on good soil structure. 

Good soil structure will contain pore spaces that help provide natural aeration for better air exchange, water infiltration and retention, and nutrient storage and recycling. This promotes healthy plant growth. Good soil structure also allows roots to grow and move easily through the soil. This contributes to stronger root systems that will freely weave through the surrounding soil matrix in search of water and nutrients. Well-developed roots also help stabilize the soil from erosion. Stronger roots will result in stronger plants.

By contrast, soil that has become compacted by foot traffic, vehicles, or overwatering does not have a good soil structure. The soil particles are so smashed together, that water and air cannot infiltrate properly. Without attention, the area will continue to do poorly. I have provided a link below for more info on soil structure.

Compost also adds nutrient values of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium to the soil at 1% each. These mineral elements are essential to healthy plant growth, and compost application does this naturally.

Applying compost in the spring will help condition the soil beneath your grass, and doing so will result in a slow-release, nutrient-boosting amendment, promoting vigorous grass growth. Compost turns existing soil into great soil for root development, nutrient uptake, and beautiful green grass, without spraying synthetic “stuff” in your yard (synthetic fertilizers do not remain stationary, and can leach into freshwater aquifers). Healthy grass can better withstand attacks from pathogens, and insects, and block weeds attempting to take advantage of thinned areas and stressed plants. In the fall compost should be applied after the summer heat has subsided. This is also a good time to aerate the soil if needed, and over-seed with a good quality grass seed mix. In both applications, 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch of compost should be spread as evenly as possible, and then lightly raked into the grass. 

As an amendment, compost can be added to the soils in your lawn, landscape shrub areas, flower beds, and raised veggie beds. When you do, you are providing a nutrient-rich foundation that releases slowly into the soil throughout the growing season. As the nutrients become available, your grass and plants will more easily take up and use the freed nutritious materials to great benefit. When using compost, you are helping to build a naturally healthy lawn crop in your backyard, and you are also responsibly contributing to the natural cycling process of life.

The benefits of compost are numerous. There are many wonderful resources about compost, if you are interested in making your own, or just learning about it. For a more in-depth exploration, please see the links below. 

I hope that you will consider using compost as a more enlightened approach to building up healthier soil, and by extension, a healthier lawn that is safe for people, pets, wildlife, and aquifers. Finding quality compost is not hard. I encourage you to look for better quality compost at local garden centers, commercial composting facilities, such as New Milford Farms, CT, or local municipal/town processing facilities (the Town of New Castle, NY, comes to mind). 

I would be more than happy to provide a free evaluation and estimate for topdressing your lawn with a compost application. You can text or call (914) 380-2095, but you can also visit our Website at https://greenserenelawn.com/ to get to know more about us.

Best wishes and good health,

Ralph

Resources:

https://www.thespruce.com/compost-for-the-lawn-2152935

https://www.compostingcouncil.org/general/custom.asp?page=CompostBenefits

https://www.compostingcouncil.org/general/custom.asp?page=CertifiedCompostSTA

https://www.thespruce.com/what-is-organic-matter-1401911

https://extension.psu.edu/introduction-to-soils-soil-quality