For those looking to enhance the overall quality and health of their garden, yard, or entire landscape, the proper use of compost can greatly help. Organic compost is essentially a mixture of decomposition that provides the necessary nutrients and bacteria for plants to survive. Because it is such a fundamental material for plant growth, both residential garden hobbyists and commercial planters and farmers find compost useful to their efforts. And, while it will do most of the work for you, there are a few ways to make sure you are getting the most out of your compost.

Tip #1: Use Your Compost as Tea

After reading the first tip, you are probably a little grossed out, but no, the tea is not for you to drink. Compost tea is an old method for using the best of the compost nutrients for potted plants with no room for more soil. You can make compost tea by first filling a burlap bag with compost. Think of this as the equivalent of a tea bag when making hot tea to drink. You will place this bag in a bucket of water and let it sit for an hour to an hour and a half. Once the time has passed, remove the bag and use the liquid to water your plants. The contents of the bag can then be dumped into the garden and used as compost mulch.

Tip #2: Keep Compost Away From Plant Stems

When using compost as mulch in your garden, it is best to keep the compost away from the stem of the plants. It is suggested to leave two to three inches of space around them.  The idea is to let the nutrients from the compost soak into the soil, without stealing nitrogen from the plant’s root zone. Another reason to do so is that wet compost can easily transfer diseases and pests to your plants.

Tip #3: Be Careful Not to Introduce Weeds

If you are using your own compost, or are uncertain about its original source, be sure to examine it before adding the compost to your garden or landscape. Compost piles can be an excellent place for weeds and insects to thrive, so you want to make sure you aren’t inadvertently adding weeds to your garden.

Tip #4: Choose Whittier Fertilizer

With Whittier Fertilizer, the good news is that tip number three is not an issue. Whittier Fertilizer uses only premium organic compost with the top air-to-water ratio. When you choose Whittier Fertilizer, you can rest assured you are putting only the best into your garden.

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