5 Ws and an H -- For those new to compost use, we lay down the basics to help make your next farm, turfgrass, or garden effort a big success. It all starts with good soil.
2. WHO uses compost?
Farmers Gardeners Landscapers &
turf managers
Construction
industry
Public
utilities
3. WHO uses compost?
Farmers Gardeners Landscapers &
turf managers
Construction
industry
Public
utilities
From lot-size urban
farms to vast rural
acreage, growing
operations large
and small rely on
the proven power
of compost to feed
the soil and boost
profits.
4. WHO uses compost?
Farmers Gardeners Landscapers &
turf managers
Construction
industry
Public
utilities
Whether the home
garden is a window
sill or 5-acre tract,
the resident green
thumb knows the
addition of
compost makes
those plants grow,
grow, grow.
5. WHO uses compost?
Farmers Gardeners Landscapers &
turf managers
Construction
industry
Public
utilities
Professional lawn-
care companies,
landscapers and
turfgrass managers
trust compost for
faster green-up,
extended seasons,
reduced irrigation,
and good root
development.
6. WHO uses compost?
Farmers Gardeners Landscapers &
turf managers
Construction
industry
Public
utilities
For commercial,
residential, and
highway
construction,
compost provides
economical
reliability for
controlling erosion
and establishing
vegetation.
7. WHO uses compost?
Farmers Gardeners Landscapers &
turf managers
Construction
industry
Public
utilities
When the control
of stormwater is a
priority, public
utilities turn to
compost to absorb,
filter, reduce, and
degrade polluted
flow before it
reaches surface
waters.
9. WHAT is compost?
Recycled
organics
Soil food Soil inoculant Water
retainer
Pollution
preventer
Compost is a soil
amendment
manufactured from
the organic waste
generated by cities,
farms, institutions,
and industries. It is
considered a
sustainably-
resourced product.
10. WHAT is compost?
Recycled
organics
Soil food Soil inoculant Water
retainer
Pollution
preventer
Compost feeds the
soil so the soil can
function as it was
intended, providing
nutrients, water
retention, space for
roots to grow, and
so much more.
11. WHAT is compost?
Recycled
organics
Soil food Soil inoculant Water
retainer
Pollution
preventer
As a biologically-
active product,
compost replenishes
the depleted soil
micro-organisms
responsible for
nutrient uptake and
disease resistance.
12. WHAT is compost?
Recycled
organics
Soil food Soil inoculant Water
retainer
Pollution
preventer
Compost’s organic
matter acts as a
sponge, the key to a
healthy soil’s ability
to retain high
volumes of water,
helping to reduce
irrigation needs,
stormwater flows,
and erosion.
13. WHAT is compost?
Recycled
organics
Soil food Soil inoculant Water
retainer
Pollution
preventer
Reduced
stormwater flows
and microbial
degradation of
pollutants cut
sedimentation and
contamination of
rivers, streams, and
other surface
waters.
14. WHEN is compost used?
Pre-plant Mid-season Post-season During
construction
Spill
clean-up
15. WHEN is compost used?
Pre-plant Mid-season Post-season During
construction
Spill
clean-up
Before seeding,
transplanting, or
planting trees and
shrubs, add
compost to the soil
or media mix to
provide an ideal
environment and
give new growth a
natural boost.
16. WHEN is compost used?
Pre-plant Mid-season Post-season During
construction
Spill
clean-up
Broadcast over
sports fields, side-
dress banded rows,
or sprinkle a little
around the tops of
containers and
bedding plants for
a mid-season pick-
me-up.
17. WHEN is compost used?
Pre-plant Mid-season Post-season During
construction
Spill
clean-up
When the harvest
is over, put fields
and beds to sleep
for the winter with
a nourishing
compost blanket.
Earthworms will
work their magic to
condition the soil
for spring planting.
18. WHEN is compost used?
Pre-plant Mid-season Post-season During
construction
Spill
clean-up
Compost blankets,
socks, and berms
are used during
construction to
manage
stormwater and
post-construction
to establish new
turf and
ornamentals.
19. WHEN is compost used?
Pre-plant Mid-season Post-season During
construction
Spill
clean-up
Compost’s ability
to absorb and
degrade make it an
ideal product for
both spill clean-up
and on-site/in-situ
bioremediation for
many types of
contaminants.
20. WHERE is compost used?
Crop fields
& pastures
Lawns, parks
& sports fields
Containers &
planting beds
Building sites Streets &
highways
21. WHERE is compost used?
Field crops
& pastures
Lawns, parks
& sports fields
Containers &
planting beds
Building sites Streets &
highways
Field crops
Banded row
Plasticulture
Horse pastures
Viticulture
Horticulture
Silviculture
Sod farms
22. WHERE is compost used?
Field crops
& pastures
Lawns, parks
& sports fields
Containers &
planting beds
Building sites Streets &
highways
Athletic fields
Parks and lawns
Recreation areas
Golf courses
23. WHERE is compost used?
Field crops
& pastures
Lawns, parks
& sports fields
Containers &
planting beds
Building sites Streets &
highways
Nurseries
Raised bed gardens
Greenhouses
24. WHERE is compost used?
Field crops
& pastures
Lawns, parks
& sports fields
Containers &
planting beds
Building sites Streets &
highways
Slopes and hillsides
Site perimeter
Berms and swales
Runoff channels
Catchment basins
Landscaped areas
25. WHERE is compost used?
Field crops
& pastures
Lawns, parks
& sports fields
Containers &
planting beds
Building sites Streets &
highways
Berms
Culverts
Runoff channels
Slopes and hillsides
Medians
Roadside
27. WHY is compost used?
Restore soil
organic
matter
Improve
nutrient
uptake
Manage
stormwater
Fight soil-
borne plant
disease
Replenish
microbial
populations
Human use
depletes soil
organic matter.
Organic matter
content is a
differentiating
factor between
good soil and plain
dirt. A 5% organic
matter content is
recommended.
28. WHY is compost used?
Restore soil
organic
matter
Improve
nutrient
uptake
Manage
stormwater
Fight soil-
borne plant
disease
Replenish
microbial
populations
Microbial activity in
the soil converts
nutrients to plant-
available form and
facilitates nutrient
uptake, resulting in
a reduced synthetic
fertilizer input
requirement.
29. WHY is compost used?
Restore soil
organic
matter
Improve
nutrient
uptake
Manage
stormwater
Fight soil-
borne plant
disease
Replenish
microbial
populations
Using compost
BMPs to manage
stormwater is
effective and
brings down
project costs. Its
dual function --
erosion control and
soil conditioning --
saves money.
30. WHY is compost used?
Restore soil
organic
matter
Improve
nutrient
uptake
Manage
stormwater
Fight soil-
borne plant
disease
Replenish
microbial
populations
Compost can be an
effective tool in the
fight against fungal
diseases like dollar
spot and fairy
rings.
31. WHY is compost used?
Restore soil
organic
matter
Improve
nutrient
uptake
Manage
stormwater
Fight soil-
borne plant
disease
Replenish
microbial
populations
The only way to
efficiently and
economically
replace depleted
soil microbes is to
use compost.
32. HOW is compost used?
Incorporate Topdress Blend Blanket Capture &
degrade
33. HOW is compost used?
Incorporate Topdress &
overseed
Blend Blanket Capture &
degrade
Before seeding or
laying sod, add 1-2
inches of compost
and till, disk or core
aerate to a depth
of 4-8 inches.
34. HOW is compost used?
Incorporate Topdress &
overseed
Blend Blanket Capture &
degrade
Apply 1/4 to 1/2-
inch of compost
before or after
aerating. For
patching bare spots
or when spreading
under established
trees and shrubs,
apply a 1/4 to 1/2-
inch layer. Rake in.
35. HOW is compost used?
Incorporate Topdress &
overseed
Blend Blanket Capture &
degrade
Add up to 30%
compost in a blend
or potting mix
recipe. Compost
can be substituted
1:1 for peat moss.
36. HOW is compost used?
Incorporate Topdress &
overseed
Blend Blanket Capture &
degrade
Composts can be
applied or blown
onto the soil
surface and seeded
without
incorporation
when formulated
for erosion control
or other special
uses.
37. HOW is compost used?
Incorporate Topdress &
overseed
Blend Blanket Capture &
degrade
Compost socks and
berms trap and
filter stormwater to
curb erosion and
reduce pollution.
Place socks around
culverts and other
stormwater system
entry points.
38. One product | Many benefits | Superior results
COMPOST WORKS