University of California

Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources

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California Master Gardener Tip Sheet Publication 8367 / September 2009

Composting Is Good for Your

Garden and the Environment
PAMELA M. GEISEL, Academic Coordinator, UC Statewide Master Gardener Program; and
DONNA C. SEAVER, Program Representative, UC Statewide Master Gardener Program

Why Compost?
Composting is good for several reasons:
• It saves water by helping the soil hold moisture and reduce water
runoff.
• It benefits the environment by recycling organic resources while
conserving landfill space.
• It reduces the need for commercial soil conditioners and fertilizers.
Compost provides many benefits. It
• adds nutrients and beneficial microbes, holds water, and improves
plant growth
• provides a supplemental amount of slow-release nutrients
• increases soil organic matter
• encourages healthy root structure
• lightens clay soils and helps sandy soils hold water
• attracts and feeds earthworms and other beneficial soil microorganisms
• helps balance pH (acidity/alkalinity)
• helps control soil erosion
• helps protect plants from drought and freezes
• decreases use of petrochemical fertilizers
• moderates soil temperature and reduces weeds when used as a mulch

Ways to Use Compost

Different composts have different properties, and vary in their suitability for various uses. Compost can be
used as mulch, topdressing, soil amendment, or as an organic fertilizer.
• Mix it into flower bed and vegetable garden planting areas to improve soil properties. Before planting, mix a
3- to 4-inch layer of compost into newly reclaimed or poor soils. Mix a 1⁄2- to 3-inch layer of compost into
annual garden beds at least once a year. Do not plant trees in small holes filled with compost, as this could
cause root restriction. (For equivalents between U.S. and metric systems of measurement, a conversion
table is provided at the end of this publication.)
Composting Is Good for Your Garden and the Environment ANR Publication 8367 2

• Spread a 1- to 4-inch layer of coarse compost DO Compost

around flowers, shrubs, trees, and vegetables as Browns Greens
a mulch. Composts with larger particle size are most sawdust tea bags
generally better for mulches. chopped woody prunings citrus rinds
• Apply and maintain a 3-inch layer of coarse pine needles coffee grounds
compost around trees and shrubs, keeping it at fallen/dried leaves coffee filters
least a foot away from tree trunks.
dried grass shrub and grass clippings
• Top-dress your lawn by evenly spreading a 1⁄8- to straw fruit waste
1
⁄2-inch layer of compost over established grass
shredded paper vegetable waste
(high end only for cool-season species such as tall
shredded cardboard wilted flowers
fescue that are not mowed as short as warm-season
grasses). shredded newspaper young weeds
old potting mix
• Use compost in potting mixes for indoor and
outdoor plants. Sprinkle a thin layer of compost
around houseplants. Make a potting soil by mixing Do NOT Compost
one part compost with one part sand, one part dirt/soil
ground bark, and one part peat moss. ashes from a stove, fireplace, or barbecue
• If you don’t have a gardenuse compost with animal products (meat, bones, fish, grease/fat)
house plants, give it to a friend, or donate it to a dairy products
community garden. sawdust from plywood/treated wood
diseased plants
How to Compost seed-bearing weeds (e.g., Bermuda grass, ivy, oxalis bulbs, burr clover)
Several methods of composting can be used. Talk manure or human waste
with your local Master Gardener to learn
• which method will work best for the time, energy,
and materials you have to devote to the process Note that adding manure to compost piles
• which method will give you the amount of from any animal should be avoided because there
compost you need and in the time you need it is a potential risk of disease-producing bacterial
contamination that may be harmful to humans.
• the details for successfully using the method that
Commercial composting operations effectively
best suits you and your gardening needs
control pathogens. Backyard piles may not, however,
because they are smaller and may not maintain
Composting Basics
sufficient heat.
1. Chop materials 1⁄2 to 11⁄2 inches for rapid
composting. Compost is generated when organic matter
2. Mix equal volumes of carbon-rich dry brown and is consumed and decomposed by microorganisms
nitrogen-rich green plant materials. under favorable environmental conditions. Key
3. Keep compost only as moist as a wrung-out management factors for the compost process
sponge. include maintaining a good nutrient balance, correct
4. Turn every few days to fluff the pile so air can moisture content and temperatures, and adequate
penetrate. aeration. Composting is a managed process for
5. A hot pile composts quickly, a cool pile takes accelerating the decomposition of organic matter
much longer. while improving its characteristics.
6. Finished compost should smell earthy, never The majority of compost formation should
rancid. occur when temperatures range from 100° to 150°F
(38° to 66°C). At these temperatures the rate of
organic matter decomposition is maximized and
indicator species of pathogens are reduced to non-
detectable levels. The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) has found that decomposing organic
Composting Is Good for Your Garden and the Environment ANR Publication 8367 3

matter in aerated static piles exposed to 131°F (55°C) Endowment for Ornamental Horticulture. Content
for 3 days is enough to eliminate parasites, fecal used in this publication was excerpted from Compost
bacteria, and plant pathogens as well as inactivate most in a Hurry (ANR Publication 8037) by Pamela M.
weed seeds. However, piles need to be turned 5 times Geisel and Carolyn L. Unruh; California Master
and maintained at 131°F (55°C) for 3 consecutive days Gardener Handbook (ANR Publication 3382),
between turnings. Turning the pile regularly to allow edited by Dennis Pittenger; Basic Composting
cooler surface zones to mix with hot center areas is and Composting 101, UC Cooperative Extension,
recommended to maintain 131°F (55°C). Placer and Nevada Counties; and Compost Use for
Please contact your local Master Gardener Landscape and Environmental Enhancement by UC
for more information or go online to editors Janet Hartin and David Crohn, published by
http://camastergardeners.ucdavis.edu. California Integrated Waste Management Board.
We gratefully acknowledge support for Poster design and illustrations: Will Suckow
this project from the Elvenia J. Slosson Research Illustration.

Resources Accessible Online

Web Sites
California Master Gardeners
http://camastergardeners.ucdavis.edu/
UCCE Placer/Nevada Counties Composting Education Project
http://ceplacer.ucdavis.edu/Master_Gardener252/
Publications/Brochures
California Master Gardener Handbook
ANR Publication 3382
http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/InOrder/Shop/ItemDetails.asp?ItemNo=3382
Compost in a Hurry
ANR Publication 8037
http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/InOrder/Shop/ItemDetails.asp?ItemNo=8037
Compost Use for Landscape and Environmental Enhancement
http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Publications/Organics/44207002.pdf
Key Points of Control and Management for Microbial Food Safety: Edible Landscape Plants and
Home Garden Produce
ANR Publication 8101
http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/InOrder/Shop/ItemDetails.asp?ItemNo=8101
Water Conservation Tips for the Home Lawn and Garden
ANR Publication 8036
http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/InOrder/Shop/ItemDetails.asp?ItemNo=8036

Metric Conversions
Conversion factor for Conversion factor for metric
English English to metric to English Metric
inch (in) 2.54 0.394 centimeter (cm)
foot (ft) 0.3048 3.28 meter (m)
Composting Is Good for Your Garden and the Environment ANR Publication 8367 4

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Ask a UC
Master Gardener

Composting is
Good for Your Garden
and the Environment
Using compost helps
t
grow healthier plants
t
reduce landfill
t
save water
t
improve soil properties
t
decrease need for chemical fertilizers

Please contact your local Master Gardener for more information (http://camastergardeners.ucdavis.edu).
We gratefully acknowledge support for this project from the Elvenia J. Slosson Research Endowment for Ornamental Horticulture.
Content used in this publication was excerpted from Compost in a Hurry (ANR Publication 8037), by Pamela M. Geisel and Carolyn L.
Unruh; California Master Gardener Handbook (ANR Publication 3382), edited by Dennis Pittenger; Basic Composting
and Composting 101, UC Cooperative Extension, Placer and Nevada Counties; and Compost Use for Landscape and
Environmental Enhancement, edited by UC editors Janet Hartin and David Crohn and published by
California Integrated Waste Management Board.
Project management: Pamela M. Geisel; Donna C. Seaver. Poster design and illustrations: Will Suckow Illustration. No endorsement of listed sites,
products, or information is intended, nor criticism implied of those not mentioned. The University of California does not discriminate in any of its policies,
procedures, or practices. The University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. September 2009
 Composting is Good for Your Garden
and the Environment

Ways to Use Compost

Compost can be used as mulch, topdressing, soil
amendment, or organic fertilizer.

t
Mix it into planting

areas to improve
soil properties.

t
If you don’t have a

garden—use it with
house plants, give it
to a friend, or donate
it to a community
garden.
 Composting is Good for Your Garden
and the Environment

How to Compost
There are several methods of composting.
Ask your local Master Gardener for specifics.

Composting Basics
1. Chop materials
½ to 1½ inches.
2. Mix equal volumes
of carbon-rich
dry brown and
nitrogen-rich
green plant
materials.
3. Keep compost
only as moist as a
wrung out sponge.
4. Turn often.