WeCare

Benefits of Compost

Compost is extremely beneficial to your soil, as most gardeners already know. Whether worked into the earth or applied as a top dressing, compost can give your plants extra vigor as they grow. Even people who regularly use compost are surprised at just how many ways it can improve their soil with its rich mix of organic matter and living organisms. Below are the top five benefits of using compost in your garden.

1. Supplying Nutrients

Compost enriches soil with nutrients from broken-down organic matter, supporting healthy plant growth. Many see compost as another fertilizer for its nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrients. However, unlike commercial fertilizers, compost releases nutrients slowly over months or years, not all at once. This slow release helps prevent deficiencies of minor elements like manganese or calcium, offering a more balanced nutrient supply for plants.

2. Adding Organic Matter

Most home sites lack fertile soil, making it hard to grow fruits and vegetables in mucky clay or sandy soil. Compost improves these conditions by adding rich organic matter, nourishing the soil, and supporting a dynamic food web of beneficial organisms. Additionally, compost is rich in carbon, helping to sequester it and counter greenhouse gas emissions.

3. Building Soil Structure

Soil is a mix of sand, silt, clay, and organic matter with pores for air, water, and roots. Compaction often occurs with new construction due to heavy traffic and vegetation clearing, which disrupts soil structure. Lawns can also become compacted from foot and mower traffic. Compost can help rebuild soil structure by introducing beneficial organisms that create new pores. Mulching with compost aids this process, while tilling compost into soil adds diversity but may harm existing soil organisms.

4. Retaining Water

Improving soil structure with compost enhances its ability to absorb and store water. Open pores allow precipitation to sink in rather than run off, preventing erosion and contamination. Compost-amended soil captures more water, holding it where plants need it. Additionally, a thick layer of compost as a top-dressing helps keep the soil cooler and reduces moisture loss through evaporation.

5. Reducing Waste

In the U.S., about 40% of grown food is wasted, filling landfills and releasing methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Organic materials like yard waste and pizza boxes also end up in landfills but are excellent for composting. Composting these wastes reduces landfill use and sequesters carbon. Home composting eliminates the need for waste transport, while commercial facilities handle materials difficult to compost at home. Even if you don’t compost at home, participating in a green waste program helps reduce landfill waste.