Ingredients:

Leaves, grass clippings, garden waste, brush, tree trimmings, shrubs and paper (from Essex-Windsor residents). The material is shredded, and composted a 55 degrees Celsius (to kill pathogens and weed seeds for three to six months, and screened to 1/2 inch diameter.

Compost Analysis Proficiency:

This product was successfully submitted under the Composting Council of Canada's "Compost Quality Alliance".

• Compost Stability Index 8
• C/N ratio 11:1
• Moisture 47.04

The Background on Compost...

Our compost is made from 100% organic material with 100% of the material originating in Essex-Windsor. It comes from your garden, lawn, and yard waste. It consists of "browns" which include dead plant materials, leaves, and wood chips mixed with "greens" consisting of fresh vegetable and garden waste and green leaves.

The Authority grinds the material and stockpiles it in windrows (very large rows). The windrows are turned frequently by a front-end loader and temperatures are maintained at recommended levels. After approximately six months, it is transformed into a dark humus with a distinctive earthy smell. It is then passed through a one-half inch screen thereby eliminating large pieces of wood and any plastic. At this point the material is stockpiled for sale. The Authority charges residents for compost only to recover a portion of the costs required to process, grind and screen the material.

Compost is not soil, fertilizer or peat. Soil cannot replenish itself without additional organic material that is responsible for sustaining plant growth. Fertilizers can provide additional chemical nutrients such as nitrogen or phosphorous but cannot break up soils, add organic nutrients, or retain water. Peat can retain water and break up soils but it has little organic nutrient value. Only compost can provide your plants with all three essential features.

Plants require organic matter to grow. Compost is 100% organic matter. I provides slow release forms of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium (NPK) and a wide range of micronutrients.

Compost replaces the lost organic content in the soil. This is important because topsoil is lost 10 times faster than it is replaced in Essex County. Landscapers have found that increases in soil organic matter from compost additions improves plant growth anywhere from 20% to 100%.

• Compost holds water in the soil like a sponge. This is especially helpful during droughts or long periods without rain.
• Compost breaks up clay soils and helps retain water in sandy soils as it increases the soil's water holding ability in sandy soils and provides better infiltration of both air and water in clay or heavy soils.
• Compost increases the rate of decomposition which inhibits thatch growth on lawns.
• Compost helps reduce the need for chemicals... compost helps promote healthy plants... healthy plants need less help from chemicals and fertilizers.
• Compost contains disease suppressive properties.

And finally unlike chemical fertilizers and peat moss, compost is renewable. Every year we take your discarded yard waste and make more.

Applying Compost

There is no single point when compost is finished. For many outdoor garden applications, its fine to use compost that still has a few recognizable bits of leaves or straw... it will finish rotting in the soil. For seed starting mixtures, your best off having a well-finished compost.

Proper Usage... Compost can be used at any time- Spring, Summer and Fall. It is impossible to use too much.

On Gardens... Apply a 4 inch to 6 inch layer of compost and dig it in to the top 8 - 12 inches of your garden a few weeks prior to planting. The compost may be hot or warm at the time of purchase. This means that the material is still in a state of decomposition. The material can still be dug into garden beds where it will continue to decompose. Besides adding valuable nutrients, the compost layer can provide almost a weeks supply of the plant's available water. The material can also be stockpiled, where it will again continue to breakdown and "cool".

On Lawns... Scatter up to a half inch layer of compost to nourish feeder roots. A light dusting of compost over seeded lawns helps increase germination. When using compost as a top dressing on lawns, first make sure that the material has cooled. When applying it to the lawn, sift the compost through a fine screen (1/4 inch or less).

New Sod or Seeding... Compost should be applied a few weeks befor laying sod or new seeding. It can be dug into the first few inches of the soil. It may be wise to have your soil tested prior to seeding or laying expensive sod to ensure that your soil is healthy.

Around Trees and Shrubs... Spread around shrubs and trees to a depth of 3 inches. Leave a 3-inch buffer area between the compost and the tree.

For Weed Control... Spread along garden paths and around vegetables for weed control and moisture retention.

On Flower Beds... Spread on perennial beds in the Spring, adding natural fertilizers to start your bed off right.

As a Potting Soil... Blend one part compost with one part sand and one part garden soil.

Erosion Control... Have a difficult slope to plant? Apply a layer of compost first to hold soil and seed in place.

CAUTION! Compost is not the solution to all your lawn and garden problems. Your lawn or garden may be deficient in chemicals or nutrients that cannot be completely supplemented by compost. Check with lawn care professionals if you have continued problems with your lawn or gardens.