What is compost?
Simply stated, when organic material has been thoroughly decomposed and been through the appropriate number of composting cycles it becomes compost. More specifically, the composting process requires moisture, oxygen, aerobic microbes, carbon/nitrogen ratios and time. Compost is a nutrient rich material that feeds plants and creates an environment that is conducive to plant growth. It differs from mulch, as mulch (or partially decomposed matter) is typically non-decomposed material, and therefore harmful to plants if placed in the root zone (see our Common Problems page to view other common problems associated with so-called ‘compost’ that has not been fully decomposed).
Compost is plant material that has been naturally decomposed, and may be spread on lawns, gardens, and flower beds to provide a rich source of available nutrients to your plants. Plant materials made into compost often include fruit & vegetable scraps, leaves, or grass clippings, just to name a few. Composting is the practice of “recycling” plant materials through a process of controlled decomposition that converts plant waste into a valuable product that provides gardeners, homeowners, and landscapers with a natural alternative to chemical-based fertilizers.
“Compost is an organic soil conditioner that has been stabilized to a humus-like product, that is free of viable human and plant pathogens and plant seeds, that does not attract insects or vectors, that can be handled and stored without nuisance, and that is beneficial to the growth of plants (Haug 1993).
