If you want to "go green" in your garden, compost is the most important product you can use. Compost builds healthy soils, and healthy soils grow healthy plants and lawns. When soil is high in organic matter, beneficial micro-organisms get the food cycle started by digesting organic matter and releasing valuable nutrients into the soil. These nutrients are then processed by other organisms and are eventually taken up by the plant's root system resulting in strong plant tissue and flowering.

Conversely, soils with low organic matter produce weaker plants and lawns that are more susceptible to pests and diseases. Homeowners start to rely on the use of synthetic fertilizers and chemicals to improve the "look" of their lawns and plants. While plants may look good, the soil remains infertile, increasing dependency on inorganic products in the future.

If you want to have an organic landscape, get your soil tested and find out if it is lacking nutrients needed for a sustainable organic growing program.

Fall is the best time to apply compost for gardens and lawns. Plant root systems store energy over the winter. Applying 1/2 inch of compost as topdressing on aerated lawns, or incorporating 1-2 inches into planting beds will allow plants' root systems to develop more fully. When plants start to grow in the spring, they will be able to take up more nutrients resulting in increased vigor and health.

Best of all, you will not need to spend money on ever increasingly expensive synthetic fertilizers and chemicals needed with inorganic soils. Because most of these products are petroleum-based, their costs have shot up in recent months, making the organic approach much more affordable. Once you have established a good base of compost in your soils, you will need less frequent applications of organic fertilizers to maintain healthy populations of micro-organisms in the soil for continued long-term health of plants and lawns. As a side benefit, soils with high organic levels also retain water better, thereby allowing you to conserve your water usage.

Please ask any of our horticultural sales staff for more information on compost available in bulk and bagged quantities.

Thank you!
Peter Mezitt
President of Weston Nurseries