How to Use Our Compost

Our Blue Collar Compost is a nutrient-rich, organic soil amendment that works as hard as you do. It will improve soil structure, increase water retention, and feed your garden all year long.

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Blue Collar Compost is made from composted cattle manure and screened to ½ inch. It has a fertilizer value is 1-1-2 (N-P-K) and a C:N Ratio of 11:1. This means it is a source of readily available nutrients for your gardens and landscapes. Our compost meets USDA standards for use on Certified Organic farms.

Use Blue Collar Compost as a soil amendment to add nutrients and microbially active carbon. It is not suitable for using alone in raised beds or containers.

Gardens

New Gardens: Add 2-4 inches of Blue Collar Compost and incorporate with a shovel or tiller. Use less for clay soils and more for sandy soils. Mulch all bare soil with a thick layer of wood chips, alfalfa, wool, straw, etc.

Existing Gardens: For soil that needs a boost of nutrients, add 1-2 inches of Blue Collar Compost each year. The best time to add compost is in the fall. If you are adding compost in the spring, the earlier the better. This gives it time to start working in the soil before it is time to plant. This compost also works well for topdressing around plants during the growing season to provide a nutrient boost.

Sheet Mulching or Lasagna Gardening: Use Blue Collar Compost as a nutrient dense layer at the base. Water thoroughly. For deeper beds, you can continue to layer the compost with other materials like leaves, grass clippings, and hay. For the final layer, use a few inches of potting mix or raised bed mix - something that will

provide a good seed bed and hold moisture.

Container and Raised Beds: Combine compost with peat moss, sand, soil, wood chips, or potting soil. This will provide structure and drainage, and help balance the nutrients. We suggest starting with 50% compost and experimenting until you get the best blend for your containers and crops. Keep in mind that the size of container

or raised bed, amount of drainage, and types of crops will influence the ideal blend of compost, soil, and other materials. You will need to try a few blends and see what works best for you.

Lawns and Landscapes:

Lawns: For new sod on areas that still have some topsoil, spread 2-4 inches of Blue Collar Compost, and incorporate with a tiller. Spread ⅛ - ¼ inch of Blue Collar Compost on established lawns in spring and fall. Water thoroughly! Our compost is high in the big three nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium).

Landscapes: For trees, shrubs, and perennial landscapes, spread ~1/2 inch on the surface of the soil. This can be done any time of year, but fall is ideal. Do not put compost in the hole when planting trees or shrubs as it does not encourage them to develop robust root systems.

How to Use Compost.

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