Compost is used as a soil additive when planting new trees, shrubs, vegetables, flowers and lawns. Its rich, organic content improves soil structure and nutrient holding capacity, gives the soil a rich, dark color and supplies most of the micro-nutrients required for plant health.

Compost cannot really replace fertilizer but it does provide important nutrients, micro-nutrients and beneficial bacteria to the soil. It enhances the effectiveness of fertilizer. Fertilizer primarily contains the major plant nutrients, nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K), in varying ratios. Each nutrient plays an important part in overall plant growth and vigor. Some plants do not need the addition of fertilizer, however and good highly-organic soil is all it takes.

Courtesy of the NYBG Plant Information Service