Compost for the Lawn

Shoveling compost in the garden

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Simply put, compost is decomposed organic matter but that doesn't explain much. To a romantic, compost is the very essence of life. The living aspect of the soil responsible for a myriad of the most sublime and complex processes known to man. Organisms nourishing organisms all the way up the food chain from simple bacterium to crops to humans, none of it possible without decomposed organic matter: compost.


Making Compost

Compost can be made small scale; in a backyard or underneath a sink, or large scale; in giant windrows turned by front-end loaders or other specialized equipment. Either way, it is all about decomposing organic matter until all that is left is a rich, dark, musty, almost sweet-smelling substance with the consistency of potting soil.

Almost any organic substance can be turned into compost, some of the more common items used to make compost are kitchen scraps, leaves, and grass clippings. Hay, straw, fish gurry, animal manure, twigs, tree bark, and seashells are often used to make up the composition of compost.


Actively decaying compost is said to be cooking because temperatures can reach anywhere from 120 to 160 F. The heat is generated from the intense metabolic activity of bacteria and fungi feasting on the raw organic matter.



Eventually, more complex organisms like amoeba and nematodes consume the simpler bacteria and fungi, the pile begins cooling while the nutrients in the compost become more and more concentrated from their waste products and further decomposition. The compost becomes stable as the biological activity reaches a normalized state but the compost is still curing until it finally becomes mature compost. Compost that is not completely finished can have an ammonia odor to it and may not deliver the desired effects or it can even harm the plants as it continues to cook.


It's the microorganisms in compost that give it its magic. Millions of microbes go to work in the soil, cycling nutrients and making them available to be taken up by the plant. When married with the soil, compost essentially becomes a natural fertilizer. Compost is also loaded with micronutrients and other complex biology that is extremely beneficial for plant growth. Compost adds life to the food web, ultimately resulting in healthier grass.

Good quality compost contains a high percentage of finished organic matter with the rest being made up by smaller unfinished organic matter like wood chips, sawdust, seas shells and mulched leaf matter. The presence of organic matter that is not fully composted is fine and it will eventually break down in the soil, but when it is used strictly as a bulking agent the compost begins to lose its value as a soil amendment.

Applying Compost

Compost can be spread manually with shovels by using a throwing action to try and achieve a layer about 1/4" thick. It can be smoothed out with a rake to blend it in a little better and after several days it will not even be noticeable on the surface of the lawn. Topdressing machines are becoming more widely available as composting becomes more popular as a lawn care activity, ideal for larger lawns and most likely provided as a service from lawn care companies specializing in organic lawn care.

Applying the compost immediately after seeding and aerating is an excellent way to incorporate the compost directly into the soil and provide a jump start for seedlings. Just doing this once or twice a year will benefit the lawn more than many quick-fix products that are convenient but not always the best choice.

