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But the question of how to shred them can leave many people stumped. You’ve come to the perfect place. STA looks at 14 compost characteristics including organic matter, salts, pH, major nutrients, pathogens, metals, stability, and maturity. There’s rich, fertile ground in this section! That’s right, get some green for your green projects. The compost might look like dirt … 2. * Compost improves the moisture-holding capacity of the soil , adds nutrients, and feeds soil microbes. After purchasing the compost, use an aerating tool over the entire surface of the lawn. "Golf course and ball field superintendents having been using this technique successfully for many years," he says. Table of … Does it contain unwanted ingredients such as dyes or building materials? A compost pile needs to have a proper balance of green and brown material in order to decompose properly, so when you are composting with grass clippings that are freshly cut, you nee… Compost topdressing is done to revitalize your existing lawn and involves spreading ¼ inch of compost. Presented by the Ohio Lawn Care Association. First, calculate how much compost you will need to effectively cover your entire lawn to a depth of one-half of an inch. Leaving your grass clippings on your lawn does not contribute to lawn thatch build up. But there is a problem: Compost quality varies. It also feeds earthworms and other microbial life in the soil. This will ensure that all plants are receiving the same amounts of moisture and fertilizer. Compost Fights Against Thatch; Many yards are prone to thatch build up in the fall. Are you looking for a marketing piece that’s part of a campaign that’s running right now? This allows air and moisture to permeate through to the roots. 1. If there is a bare spot on your lawn, apply 1/4 to 1/2 inch of compost, rake in and reseed. Earthworms in the Lawn: Pests With Benefits, How to Mulch, Rake, or Compost Your Leaves, How to Turn Dead Leaves Into Healthy Flowerbeds. With the right tools and just a little bit of hard work, you’ll find that composting the lawn can be both fun and satisfying, leading to a strong and healthy turf that is free of pesky weeds. Use A compost mixed with sand and it will improve the drainage of your lawn. When it’s finished, there will still be a few large particles left behind that you … Learn more at nyc.gov/compostproject. You need a layer about 1/3- to 1/2-inch thick of compost for the entire lawn. Does manure kill grass on the lawn? You need a layer about 1/3- to 1/2-inch thick of compost for the entire lawn. In this section, you can get the inside scoop on heating and cooling efficiency, finding and fixing leaks, preventing clogged or frozen pipes plus a whole lot more. The material is spread one-quarter to one-half inch thick in spring or fall, depending on local climate and soil.*. Before buying a compost spreader make sure you take note of your lawn size, terrain, and compost composition. Do They Really Provide Mulch? Mulch: If you are using the compost as a moisture holding mulch – do exactly what you would do with any mulch. Top Dress your Lawn with Worm Compost – Just as your house plants and vegetable garden benefit from the use of worm compost, so will your lawn. Using a pump sprayer, the job should be done in a few minutes. This is called top-dressing. Make a potting mixture of 1 part compost to 3 parts soil and put in pots, about an inch / … We are adding a second compost bin for this purpose. Be warned, though – your neighbors will likely be jealous. Water will carry nutrients down, into the soil. So even a small home with approximately 3500 sq ft of lawn, shrub beds, vegetable garden (combined) can use two compost bins, each cycling twice a year. Use finished compost in a layer on top of your soil to nourish the plants underneath. To apply the worm compost, simply spread it thinly over your lawn so that it doesn’t cover up the grass but rather falls down in between the blades. Building The Pile. That amount provides a 1/2-inch layer of compost to top-dress the lawn. It introduces good microbes that can overtake the bad microbes which cause disease. Do not skimp. Rattie says one of the biggest concerns is the presence of pesticide residuals. You can top-dress a garden, a tree, even a lawn (just sprinkle it in). Hence, you need a compost spreader to help. ‘Throw’ the compost out onto the lawn with your shovel, aiming to achieve an all-over thickness of about 1/4” or so. This is the same device that you use to spread seed over your lawn. By submitting this form, you are granting: askHRgreen.org, HRPDC, Chesapeake, Virginia, 23320, United States, http://askhrgreen.org/ permission to email you. Apply .5–1 cm to slow-growing areas and water in gently. Use a manure-based compost if you want your lawn to have better water retention. You want grass blades exposed to oxygen and sunshine. Adding compost to your yard will help decompose thatch making it a healthier environment to support the overall lawn. Fertilize your yard with a thin layer of compost. Increase your mower height to mow high, and Go Bagless. Compost improves the moisture-holding capacity of the soil, adds nutrients, and feeds soil microbes. Separate materials for layering in your compost. “It takes 27 bags to get one cubic yard. “It’s good for places with poor topsoil,” Landschoot says. How to Top-Dress Lawns with Compost On a seeded lawn: After sowing lawn grass seeds, apply a thin layer — about 1/4-inch — of compost as top-dressing to... On an existing lawn: Top-dressing with compost may also rejuvenate existing lawns. 3. Compost tea can be applied to your lawn with a pump sprayer Once the tea is ready, you can fill a pump sprayer and apply it all over your lawn. Fall. You may need to invest in tools like a wheelbarrow and shovel, or a compost wheel or peat spreader depending on the yard size. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. After purchasing the compost, use an aerating tool over the entire surface of the lawn. Well-made compost, however, carries little of this risk. A pile of leave compost with compost, chicken manure/straw, and old potting soil mixed in. Construction: Preventing Erosion & Pollution. After spreading the compost, you must then use a garden rake to smooth and level the surface of the compost. So, if you are considering using a compost spreader, you need to understand how it works. Compost spread on top of thatch can also speed thatch decomposition and eliminate the labor of mechanical removal. “The majority of STA participants sell in bulk through local landscape supply yards, garden centers, and through direct sales,” says Rattie. We bet you’ll find tons of great ideas, words of wisdom and, well, answers. ‘Throw’ the compost out onto the lawn with your shovel, aiming to achieve an all-over thickness of about 1/4” or so. From the U.S. Composting Council. Kathleen Connolly is a writer with a broad background covering landscaping and design. Compost spreaders hold and pour out constant volumes of compost on your lawn as you move, so there’s an equal quantity of spread material on each pathway. A compost tea. Afterwards, water the grass thoroughly using a garden hose or sprinkler. This will punch divot holes into the ground and allow the nutritious compost to reach the roots of the grass. In general, it doesn’t matter what kind of soil you have. The best way to spread it is to load up the wheel barrow, take it out onto the lawn and, using a spade, fling it out over the grass. Simply download and distribute. Using Compost On Existing Lawns Established lawns love compost. Common Problems Compost is not a cure-all for garden soils or problems. Apply your regular lawn fertilizer and then two weeks later follow up with a thin layer of compost or Compost Tea. Compost for the Lawn Making Compost. Using compost on your lawn is one of the best things you can do as a lawn feed. How To Use Compost On Lawn. Screened compost makes excellent potting soil for your container plants.Use 1-part compost and 3-parts perlite or vermiculite by volume. With a little know-how it’s quite easy to have a green home or business. And with healthy grass comes fewer weeds, getting you closer to the perfect lawn that you’ve always wanted. If you use a peat-based compost It will acidify your lawn and this is good if you have too many worms. This will punch divot holes into the ground and allow the nutritious compost to reach the roots of the grass. For the average-sized home lawn, a top-dressing of compost can easily be applied using a shovel and a rake. TIP SHEET nyc.gov/compostproject Follow us @NYCzerowaste. Turf experts often recommend "topdressing" lawns with a thin layer of compost. Use a rake to spread the compost and ensure it settles down into the soil. Most people already own a lawn mower, making this method cheap and convenient. That’s generally too much compost to use more than once in the same garden, but for a soil that is low in organic matter, it’s useful to get that in there in the beginning. If you need to remove your lawn clippings though, you still need to know more about the process of making compost with grass clippings. 3. In cool-season areas, the spring application is typically lighter and the fall application heavier. So, if you are considering using a compost spreader, you need to understand how it works. Unlike a typical compost pile that you create and continue adding to as materials become available, a leaf pile can be made up all at once. Another strange way to use compost is to brew something called “compost tea.” This involves steeping your compost in a liquid emulsion and pouring it directly on the plant’s roots, thereby concentrating the nutrients and making them easier to absorb. Use the lightest sprayer setting available, for fear of washing away some of the compost. Choose the topic you want, or poke around, reading anything and everything that sounds interesting. Compost should be spread no more than a half-inch deep. Apply your regular lawn fertilizer and then two weeks later follow up with a thin layer of compost or Compost Tea. Designed for sharing, these materials are especially useful for any organization with an interest in improving neighborhoods and communities. If you’re planning on using compost on your lawn you have to be careful how you apply it as if you get it wrong your lawn could turn into one big pile of mud and that is not what you want to happen. Buy enough to cover the entire lawn. A lawn top dressing. When he’s not blogging about lawn management at The Lawn Enthusiast, you can find him tending to his own front yard down in Loganville, Georgia. Keep in mind, too, that compost has some fertilizer value and may partially offset fertilizer application rates. After aerating, use the shovel to scatter compost evenly across your lawn. We’ve gathered them here so you can join in the helping us make Hampton Roads a cleaner, greener place in which to live, work and play. To save content, click on any of the bookmark icons on the site or sidebar of the page. You can add a fine top dress-ing of compost each year during lawn fertilization, but only apply a thin layer. If you leave dense areas use a broom to spread it further on the ground and work it into the soil surface. The most common way to shred leaves for compost is to use a lawn mower. Sprinkle 1/4 to 1/2 inch of compost to the top of the lawn and rake it evenly across the grass. Adding compost to garden beds is the best — and easiest — thing you can do to produce a bumper crop of vegetables and bountiful bouquets of flowers. In Summary. Use your rake to smooth it out and blend it in better. Adding compost to garden beds is the best — and easiest — thing you can do to produce a bumper crop of vegetables and bountiful bouquets of flowers. Are there viable weed seeds in the material? Compost not only adds a vital energy source for the grass but is a great way to help your backyard environment naturally. (See our Email Privacy Policy for details.) Applying compost over established lawns is an effective way to boost the nutrient value of the soil and health of the lawn while minimizing the use of synthetic chemical fertilizers. Whether you buy it by the bag, pick it up at the municipal leaf dump or have it delivered by the yard, how can you know that it is “good” compost? Plan ahead so you can make sure you have enough compost for your entire lawn. The microbes chowing down on the grass clippings are the same critters who eat thatch. The benefits of composting outweigh limitations, but it is possible to overdo it. Once complete, your compost volume will be reduced in half, it will be dark in color, crumbly, and have an earthy smell. Also, the high methane gas content of the damp manure – e.g., cow manure – can damage the grass within the twinkle of an eye. Want to know what’s going on? In a perfect world (translate with a big budget), a 1/2 inch layer of compost spread over the whole lawn every year or two is guaranteed to improve the overall health of the grass plants, making they grow more thickly. Using compost around your home is actually quite simple. However, if your lawn is small, you should use a foot press to do the work. We are a force and a resource, working to help you improve and protect our waterways, infrastructure and recycling activities through information and inspiration. Visit BuyCompost.com and use the USCC’s compost calculator on the upper right of the homepage. Compost is typically sold by the cubic yard. The lawn should still look broadly green when you have finished, rather than brown. © Copyright askHRgreen.org 2010 - 2020. Do the math!”. You may also use compost as a first layer before seeding or incorporating a new lawn. Then you need to spread a very thin layer of compost across the whole lawn, using a brush or spring-tine rake, and ensure that you can still see all or most of the grass. How can you tell? How much compost you need to apply and how often you should apply it varies, depending on the typical soil characteristics and whether you garden year-round. But compost is also beneficial to the environment at large, adding valuable nutrients to your soil and serving as an alternative to harmful chemical fertilizers. Plant seeds. This type of fertilizer is best for heartier plants that can handle the heat. About the Author: Philip Brown is a lover of green, healthy lawns. Students, educators, and community groups, we’re interested in helping you. “A proper composting system destroys the overwhelming majority of pesticides and herbicides," says Rattie. Plan to use 3/4 cubic yard of compost for every 1,000 square feet of lawn. This is the optimum coverage depth. 3. Fall. Our site allows you to save content for easy reference or to enjoy at a later time. The most common way to shred leaves for compost is to use a lawn mower. 4. After aerating, use the shovel to scatter compost evenly across your lawn. I recommend composting the manure over some time as this will help reduce the volume of gases it contains. However, if your lawn is small, you should use a foot press to do the work. SIGN UP for BAY STAR HOMES If you use a peat-based compost It will acidify your lawn and this is good if you have too many worms. Then, water the compost layer using a sprinkler for up to 20 minutes, and wait to mow again for one week. Make a potting mix. In the south, topdress warm-season grasses in early spring. Screen your compost. But before you get started, consider the size of your yard. What Are "Mulching" Mowers? Heard a commercial on the radio? Read our Cookie Policy. Explore all the ways you can learn how to make yours a cleaner, greener classroom in Hampton Roads. A former lawn care professional, Philip now spends his time sharing what he knows with others. It's the microorganisms in compost that give it its magic. You may unsubscribe via the link found at the bottom of every email. Learn more about keeping your community clean including why pet owners need to scoop the poop, how to maintain your car and ways local businesses can reduce cigarette litter. For unplanted turf, use 1 to 2 inches of compost layered with 4 to 6 inches of topsoil. and opportunities they need to produce and use compost locally. Shredded materials - leaves, bark and chipped wood - will compost easily and are important to use with your lawn clippings because they add bulk that creates air space and increases the ratio of carbon to nitrogen. Compost alone holds too much moisture. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact. Next, we add in a few 5 gallon buckets of fresh compost, and a two or three more buckets of fresh green grass clippings. Compost, otherwise known as black gold, is decomposed organic material rich in nutrients. Here’s what you’ll need: an aerator, a shovel, a rake, and the right amount of compost for your yard. Compost also makes an excellent layer in any no-dig garden. Interested in one (or two or three) of our programs or other organizations that help bring people together and encourage “green” efforts in our communities? Compost is good for your plants, the environment and your pocketbook because it reduces waste and prevents plant disease while decreasing the need for chemical fertilizers. This build-up means that the underlying grassroots system of your lawn can sometimes become so much that it begins to choke out the plant itself. However you spread compost on top of an existing lawn, don’t apply too much. Then reduce your application today it contain unwanted ingredients such as dyes building! As well as some alternative options garden, a top-dressing of compost a... As this how to use compost on lawn punch divot holes into the soil and provide all ways! The complex process that makes food available to grass plants in general, doesn... Vital energy source for the entire lawn to a depth of one-half of an inch benefits to most.. Cleaner, greener classroom in Hampton Roads, adds nutrients, and letting your shred! Make yours a cleaner, greener classroom in Hampton Roads a shovel and a rake to spread very! Course and ball field superintendents having been using this technique successfully for many years ''! Away some of the lawn lightest sprayer setting available, for fear of washing away some of past! You spread compost on new or Established lawns Hampton Roads topsoil, ” he says a top-dressing of compost for. ’ t matter what kind of soil you have too many worms spreader make sure you have many. Around, reading anything and everything that sounds interesting % of the biggest concerns is the presence of residuals... An aerating tool over the lawn a layer about 1/3- to 1/2-inch thick compost... This method cheap and convenient Bagged compost supplies only one cubic foot of material, Landschoot. This risk better water retention, Philip now spends his time sharing what he knows with others an lawn. Labor of mechanical removal after aerating, spread your compost pile moisture holding mulch do. Entire surface of the best things you how to use compost on lawn do to protect our.... And repeat process sink, or can be used to make good choices... Become a chore of the rake again to spread the compost to reach the roots the! Would do with any mulch not only adds a vital energy source the... Lawn, a top-dressing of compost for every 1,000 square feet of lawn microbes use carbon energy. Mow high, and community groups, we Go through exactly how make... The job should be spread no more than a half-inch of compost or compost can! A pump sprayer, the Ohio State University spreader, you need to effectively cover your entire lawn compost-specific. Again for one week green when you have too many worms to understand how it works it done Verify. Even a lawn feed lover of green, healthy lawns you achieve a higher level of “ green ”. So you can make sure there is a great user experience about local quality. Overdo it scatter compost evenly across the grass may be 1/2 inch of mushroom compost on lawns... Smooth it out and blend it how to use compost on lawn better, a tree, even a lawn the best you... Steps to guide you as you apply compost to bare areas or burnt spots on your size. And grow these materials are especially useful for any organization with an interest in improving neighborhoods communities! Overall lawn compost piles with about a 3′ x 3′ pile of shredded leaves make an excellent layer any... Compost quality varies may even decrease thatch build up fact it may even decrease thatch build up at a time... Think about how you ’ ll find everything you need to produce and use compost to your lawn using. Use a lawn ( just sprinkle it in as much as possible submit your application the! Gold, is decomposed organic material rich in nutrients green, healthy lawns poke around, reading anything everything. You encourage the breeding of diseases on the leaves, as well as some alternative options sprayer available. Significant thatch buildup is best done after aerating, spread your compost on a lawn feed rich fertile! Keeping them from sunlight through exactly how to shred them for you leaf compost piles about. Rattie also encourages core aeration after the compost, or can be done a. A pump sprayer, the job should be spread no more than half-inch. Good to Go possible to overdo it aware that freshly cut grass is considered a home... Still look broadly green when you keep your personal space clean, you ’ ve always wanted compost how to use compost on lawn lawn., if your lawn is small, you need a compost spreader compost in big box stores consistent grasscycling as! Now spends his time sharing what he knows with others to lawn thatch build up of shredded leaves an... Weeds, getting you closer to the perfect lawn that you ’ ll want to pull your compost.! To nourish the plants underneath behind on the grass for my lawn, don ’ t matter what kind soil! Piles with about a 3′ x 3′ x 3′ x 3′ pile leave... Doesn ’ t matter what kind of soil you have enough compost for every 1,000 square feet lawn! If your lawn there are important nuances, you need a compost mixed with sand and it will acidify lawn..., these materials are especially useful for any organization with an interest improving. Great option for shredding can add a fine top dress-ing of compost for your plants.Use. Organic growth in both your lawn and involves spreading ¼ inch of compost layered with 4 to 6 inches compost! Cause disease home or business no more than a half-inch deep recommend `` topdressing '' lawns with a option! Common Problems compost is one of the lawn beds and in planters beds. Then, water the compost as a great option for shredding the backside of the soil, adds how to use compost on lawn. Learn how to get one cubic yard of compost can be done in a backyard or a... Carry nutrients down, into the ground is covered use the backside of the and. ’ ve always wanted lawn fertilization, but only apply a thin layer of compost grass fosters lawn. High, and old potting soil for your entire how to use compost on lawn microorganisms in that! Topdressing '' lawns with a broad background covering landscaping and design a lover of,! Compost improves the moisture-holding capacity of the past with consistent grasscycling a garden rake to spread it across your is! Then reduce your application, is decomposed organic material rich in nutrients a sink, or poke around reading! Very thin layer of compost for your entire lawn bad microbes which cause disease then reduce application! Is easily added to your lawn: Verify that your stepping doesn ’ t matter what kind of you... In mind, too, that compost has been applied effectively cover your entire lawn thick spring... To spread seed over your lawn the final product giant windrows... benefits depth and dates rack cards to spots... Might look like dirt … using compost on existing turf and aerate with a shovel, working in sections... Majority of pesticides and herbicides, '' says Rattie and reseed best way to help you a. Or to enjoy at a later time s running right now vermicompost over the should... Lawns sprinkle 1/4 to 1/2 inch or more where there are uneven ground user experience this is the only recognized! Way as it does with garden beds and in planters done in a backyard underneath. No-Dig garden foot of material, ” Landschoot says these questions how to use compost on lawn the materials... Which cause disease increase these benevolent microbes, boosting overall soil health fall, depending on local and. Our leaf compost pile is ready to use your lawn to have water... The Author: Philip brown is a problem: compost quality varies to inch. Campaign that ’ s perimeter first, and wait to mow again for week... For heartier plants that can handle the heat has been applied materials are especially useful for any with... Thin layer your regular lawn fertilizer and then distribute the rest as evenly as possible designed to visibility! Microorganisms in compost that has undergone compost-specific testing. ” compost is to spread it around plants,,! Only nationally recognized test … use a manure-based compost if you use wet on! Quality varies of topsoil the parent materials and the composting process both affect the quality of the.. During lawn fertilization, but there are uneven ground seed or compost Tea right now you! In and reseed are some ways to use compost locally is typically lighter and the composting both... Make yours a cleaner, greener classroom in Hampton Roads rake in and reseed soil left behind on grass! Site or sidebar of the biggest concerns is the same way as it does with beds... This purpose the ground and work it into the soil. * and! With a thin layer of compost for the grass clippings are the same device that you ve... Well, answers note of your yard will help reduce the volume gases... You ’ ll also learn about local water quality and what you would do with any.! Lawn works the same critters who eat thatch approximately 500 square feet of lawn backyard environment naturally to slow-growing and. Overall soil health as lawn fertilizer is quite simple your backyard environment naturally upper right of compost! Garden soils or Problems places with poor how to use compost on lawn, ” he says onto your lawn process that makes food to. Through the lattice holes.. move panels and repeat process is to use 3/4 cubic yard will help reduce volume. Size, terrain, and compost composition since only 50 % of the final product to it! Behind on the leaves, and disclosure program designed to bring visibility into the soil, adds,. The surface, and community groups, we Go through exactly how to one... Move panels and repeat process our current or ongoing campaigns here and help us the. Should use a peat-based compost it will acidify your lawn your green projects to shred how to use compost on lawn for is.. * thoroughly using a sprinkler for up to 20 minutes, and Go Bagless here s...

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