Why Compost is the First Step

When a friend asks what their first garden project should be, I promptly answer, “Make a compost pile.” While that may seem like an evasive way to respond, compost is truly the backbone of successful gardening. Even though it might seem more reasonable to buy compost, I believe that homemade compost is much better than store-bought. Here’s why.

Compost is far cheaper to make than to buy and it’s definitely more affordable than purchasing fertilizers. You can use sifted compost to create potting mix or to fertilize your garden. One of the biggest benefits of making your own compost is knowing exactly what goes into it. Some companies have accidentally sold “killer compost,” made with materials containing herbicide residue that ended up destroying entire gardens.

Homemade compost is an excellent way to recycle plant matter, paper, and kitchen scraps. As it breaks down, it naturally adds beneficial microbes to your soil. While there are many types of microbes, compost is primarily dominated by bacteria and fungi. They break down organic matter into nutrients that plants can easily absorb.

Compost also improves both moisture retention and drainage in your soil. It can hold up to six times its weight in water, storing moisture and slowly releasing it over time.

Especially if your soil is poor, compost can help revitalize it. You can mix it into potting soil, start seeds with it, or fill porch pots. You can even make compost “tea” to use as a natural fertilizer or gentle pest deterrent. Having an established compost pile in your garden is like keeping a stocked cabinet of vitamins and remedies; some to maintain health, and some to help when things go wrong—always ready when you need it.

And this is why you should always have compost on hand

-Susan G. Wiley