Compost

Compost is garden gold– when incorporated into soil or used as topdressing, it boosts soil fertility, improves soil structure, and promotes microbial activity. These improvements create an ideal growing environment, giving plants access to food and water that they need to thrive. Especially valuable in our region, compost can increase soil’s water-holding capacity by up to 30%, making your landscape more resilient to drought. 

While compost is an essential tool for improving depleted or compacted soil, it’s important to keep in mind that balance is key. Many of our native plants thrive in lean soil, and their ecological value is highest when grown in conditions that mimic their natural habitat. The goal is to improve the soil enough to help with plant establishment, and then to let the combined effects of the compost, mulch, and proper plant selection take over from there– requiring only a little intervention from you over time. 

When adding compost for the first time to your soil– usually either as a general application at the start of a landscape project, or when planting individual plants– consider adding just ½ of the recommended amount. That’s around ½ to 1 inch of compost in a general application. For ongoing maintenance, apply compost as topdressing every 2-3 years, rather than annually. Or, only apply it to specific areas where plants are showing signs of stress or poor performance. One sign that you may be using too much compost is excessive, leafy green growth combined with very few flowers or delayed flowering.

These are the best ways to use compost in your landscape:

• Soil amendment – mix ½ – 3 inches of compost into garden beds before planting to immediately improve soil quality (use the lower end of this range for native plantings)
• Topdressing – apply ¼ – ½ inch layer around established plants every 1-3 years to slowly release nutrients into the surrounding soil
• Potting mix component – add compost to potting soil for container beds, which lose nutrients more quickly than in-ground beds
• Compost tea – steep finished compost in water to create a gentle liquid fertilizer with easy application