Compost is an organic material that is added to soil to help plants grow. It is often made of organic materials, like food and yard waste, and so returns the nutrients that they had back to the soil. There are a variety of compost look-alikes in the market, especially as gardeners are more aware of how important it is for soil and plant health. We created a Compost Buying Guide to help you learn how to buy a quality compost that is right for your needs.

Should I use compost or topsoil?

If you are looking to increase the absolute level of your garden, you generally should use a topsoil. If you are happy with the level of your garden or lawn but need it to be healthier, then you should use compost. Topsoil is just as it sounds: the top layer of the earth. It provides the structure for your plants’ roots (to give them support) as well as the nutrients that your plants need to grow. Compost is decomposed matter and contains microscopic life that helps keep your soil healthy in the near and longer-term.

Is all compost the same?

No, there are a wide variety of composts available for sale. Especially as compost has gained a lot of traction, it can be hard to tell if what you're buying is compost, let along a high-quality compost. We have created a compost buying guide to help you choose which compost is best for you.

How do I use compost?

There are two main ways to use compost. First, you can put it on top of your garden or lawn (topdressing) and allow it to work down into the soil naturally over time. Second, you can work it in to your existing soil so a more immediate impact through tilling the soil. We have more information about how to add our Grow Good Compost to your garden and lawn on our Compost page.

When should I apply compost?

Anytime! Generally, it’s best to apply it either in the fall when putting your garden or lawn to bed for the winter, or in the spring when preparing your garden.

Composting is a natural process that breaks down organic materials, like food scraps, leaves, and grass. In nature, when things die (like leaves falling from trees), they decompose over time and become part of the soil. We help speed up this natural process using technology—instead of it typically taking 9-12 months, we do it in roughly 60 days. You can learn more about how we compost food and yard waste on our about us page.

Why should I compost?

Composting is a leading way to help address climate change. By composting food and yard waste, we can boost soil health and plant growth, improve air quality, and minimize water use and pollution into the Chesapeake Bay.

Compost is made by breaking down organic materials. When composting at home, there are a variety of ways to do this, including hot composting, cold composting, vermicomposting, and Bokashi composting. At our industrial Balls Ford Road Composting Facility, we use a form of hot composting called Aerated Static Pile (ASP). This means that we have large piles of material that we add air to so that the organic materials break down quickly. We have a virtual tour on our About page.

What is in compost? What is compost made of?

Compost can contain a variety of feedstocks or ingredients—yard debris, food scraps, manure, and human waste, for example—as well as “nutritional” additives. These inputs aren’t always readily disclosed, so ask about specific inputs and make sure you are comfortable with them. Our Grow Good Compost is made from food and yard waste; we do not use manure, human waste, or fertilizers.

Is compost good for grass?

Compost is great for existing and new lawns. A good compost contains the macro (nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium) and micro nutrients that feed lawns over time. And, because a good compost will have microbes in it, it will help to break down thatch (the dead grass that builds up on top of the soil).

Is compost good for plants?

Compost is great for helping grow healthy and resilient plants. It helps improve your soil’s near and long-term health so that plants can thrive.

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Learn about composting food and yard waste at Freestate Farms.

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