We like to talk about compost here at Rocky Mountain Compost. Its what we started our business with and its still our best seller. We got into producing compost on a commercial scale to fill many needs. The first need it met was removing yard and animal waste from places that needed somewhere to go with it. Second there are many applications that are in need of organic matter in the form of compost. So it’s a win-win all the way around.
Why We Make Compost
Compost is a soil amendment that adds organic matter to your lawn, garden or flower beds. Compost is made from organic matter from various sources. The organic matter is mixed and piled and then heats up, which then decomposes and creates a product that can now be readily used if a few ways. A well-managed compost pile with moisture and shredded materials under warm conditions usually will be ready in one to four months. But if a pile or bin is left unattended or material is not shredded, the pile may take a year or longer to decompose.
What’s Compost Good For?
Compost adds beneficial micro-organisms and enzymes to your soil. It improves soil structure and allows for better drainage, while adding water holding capacity. Compost increases the ability of the soil to hold and release essential nutrients. The activity of earthworms and soil microorganisms beneficial to plant growth is promoted with compost additions. Compost can be tilled into soil or used as a surface mulch. Composted material is much easier to handle and mix with soil than un-composted material.
Today’s gardeners should be aware of readily available sources of organic matter. These include plant materials from their own homes and yards, such as grass clippings, scraps of vegetable materials, small twigs, and especially fall leaves. To become usable soil amendments, these materials should undergo a degree of decomposition brought about by certain bacteria and fungi (microbes). The process by which gardeners convert organic matter into a usable form for gardens is called composting, and the usable material is referred to as compost. The practice of applying materials such as compost, leaves, or grass clippings to the soil surface to modify soil temperature and moisture, and control weeds and soil erosion is called mulching.
Compost improves the drainage and aeration of heavy clay soils and increases the moisture-holding ability of sandy soils. Adding compost to soil increases earthworm and soil microbial activity that benefits plant growth. With yearly additions of compost, a more desirable soil structure is created, and the soil becomes easier to work. Compost also contains nutrients needed for plant growth.
