Compost Uses and Application
Rates
Uses
of Compost: Compost can be used as a soil conditioner,
low grade fertilizer, as a decorative mulch, in potting mixes, to establish or
rejuvenate lawns and play fields, etc.
Nearly any type of soil can be improved with a 20 to 50% addition of compost.
The ability of the compost to suppress many common turf diseases as well as the
natural “softening” of the grass surface has made compost a favored material
for golf course and sports field maintenance professionals. Compost can be used in the vegetable garden
in much the same manner as one might use manure. MaineGro is a safe and
effective product that needs no special handling or permits.
A
word about Salt and Conductivity: Salts are
common in soils to varying degrees, and in fact the nutrients in soil are in
the form of ions that are commonly measured as salt. Too much salt can, however, be damaging to
certain sensitive plants such as narrow leaf evergreens, rhododendrons,
azaleas, and geraniums. It is also
recommended that the salt content of potting mixes be tested. In nearly all applications, a salt content as measured by conductivity of
the growth medium (that is the compost-soil mixture) should not be above 3.0
mmhos/cm. Maine State regulations require distributors of compost having a salt
content above 2.0 mmhos/cm to distribute information on salt content to
customers. Based upon our testing and experience, the salt content of MaineGro
should not be a concern in most applications.
Application
Rates for Different Uses:
|
Use or Purpose |
Application Rate |
Notes, Remarks,
etc. |
|
New Lawn |
1.5 to 5 (15 to 30%) |
Till into the top 4 to 6
inches of soil, smooth surface, remove large objects, seed, hydro-seed, sprig
or sod. |
|
Lawn Rehab or Maintenance |
0.5 to 2.0 (n/a) |
Spring or fall, cut grass short,
broadcast over surface and rake in.
Keep lawn moist for 2 cuttings after appl |
|
Renovation of Sports Fields |
1.5 to 5.0 (15 to 30%) |
Remove existing growth 2 to
4 weeks before tilling, follow new lawn instructions, hydro seed. |
|
Vegetables |
.5 to 4 (10 to 30%) |
Till into the topsoil (3 to
6 inches). Lower rates if other fertilizer is to be used. Use
precautions similar to manure. |
|
Potting Mixes and House
Plants |
n/a (20 to 50%) |
Mix Thoroughly using sand,
vermiculite, perlite, etc. On salt
sensitive species, test mix or use lower compost component. |
|
Flower Gardens |
.5 to 4 (10 to 30%) |
Till into soil to a depth
of 3 to 6 inches, or use as backfill when planting annuals and bushes mix
well |
|
Decorative Mulch |
3 to 7 (1” to 2” layer) |
Reduce fertilizer application,
use care in erosion prone locations, weed seeds that land on compost will
grow |
|
Topsoil Blending |
n/a (20 to 50%) |
Use higher rates for very
sandy or clayey soils. |
Note: Application rates are
given in cubic yards per 1000 square feet and percentage of compost in the
final soil/growth medium mix. One Cubic
yard of compost weighs 900 to 1100 lbs.
Weight is highly variable with moisture content, as influenced by
storage & weather.
Compost Use Estimator
:
1 inch layer covering 1,000 square feet will require about 3 cubic yards of compost.
1 inch layer covering 1 acre will require about 134 cubic yards of compost.