compost-topdressing How-To soil preparation

How to Compost

Hillary is communications director for Super-Sod. She earned her BS in Horticulture from UGA and has spent the last 30 years marketing plants and gardening products. She used to be a tree snob, but after walking barefoot on a Zoysia lawn, is now a Zoysiagrass snob. When not picnicking on her own Zeon Zoysia lawn, growing vegetables, identifying roadside weeds, or planting hydrangeas and Japanese maples, she spends her time pursuing the domestic arts of knitting, cooking, canning, making things like beeswax candles, and throwing dinner parties. Her great love is helping customers learn how to take care of their lawns, garden better, and enjoy the journey.

May 2, 2017 1 minute read

Making your own compost is a very long process, and often, compost is applied before it is fully ready (finished compost). Compost is ready for application when it is completely decomposed; it will be as fine as coffee grounds instead of chunky pieces.

Soil³ compost is a fully finished, nutrient rich, organic humus compost ready for application.

Compost Uses and Applications

Soil3 organic humus compost ready for application

Compost as Organic Soil

When compost is fully decomposed, it can be used as an organic soil. Soil³ compost is rich in nutrients and is completely chemical free. This composted organic soil provides plants with a healthy soil structure allowing water retention and air circulation to the roots.

Using compost as organic soil means you can plant directly in it without any other soil-building additives. There is no need to use this compost only as an additive, but it can be used as the growing media itself.

This method works extremely well for container gardening or in raised garden beds.

Compost as Soil Amendment

Organic matter within soil is crucial for the proper development and growth of plants. In climates where the soil rarely freezes, the organic matter is used up at a fast pace due to the active biological soil.

Mixing Soil³ compost into soil will add moisture, great texture and nutrients to your already existing soil. Whether you are vegetable gardening or flower gardening, you will see your plants grow larger and faster than ever before

Spread the compost over the garden bed;
Mix and till the compost into the existing soil to about 4 inches deep;
1 Cubic Yard of Soil³ will cover about 500 square feet (depending on soil type).

Compost as Topdressing for Lawns

Grass after using compost as topdressing

Using finished organic compost as a thin layer on turf grass is intended to improve the soil underneath the grass. Sprinkling a layer of Soil³ on your lawn will allow the fine-textured organic compost to settle into the soil and help replenish the nutrients for your grass roots.