We believe that our Horticultural Compost is the most technically superior compost available in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
We craft Horticultural Compost with care, monitoring and testing throughout the aging process. First steam pasteurized then composted in windrows and finally cured on our concrete pad, this product is ninety nine percent weed seed free. Horticultural Compost is blended from hay, straw, horse manure, poultry litter, corncobs, cottonseed hulls, cocoa bean hulls, hardwood sawdust, millet, and fortified with peat moss and gypsum. Our horticultural compost is rich in beneficial microorganisms and fungi, which help build strong and healthy soil biology, thereby strengthening the soils disease resistance properties.
The high organic matter content and neutral pH also help in building good soil aggregation. Well aggregated soils are resistant to compaction and allow for better water and oxygen filtration. Soils with appropriate amounts of organic matter have the ability to retain moisture is dry weather conditions and to allow excess water to pass through in excessively wet weather conditions. Due to many of the properties of Horticultural Compost the cation exchange capacity in the soil is improved. Cation exchange is the process which ultimately enables the existing nutrients in soil that are bound within the soil molecules to be released into a soluble form easier for plants to absorb. Horticultural Compost is a great source of organic based micro and macronutrients, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous, and works well either incorporated into the soil or applied as light mulch. Horticultural Compost will aid in building powerful, productive soils and it is the perfect choice for establishing annuals, perennials, or woody ornamental plants.
This product is also Certified by the United States Compost Council’s STA (Seal of Testing Assurance) program.
Optimal Soil Profile
Typical Soil Profile
Pie charts illustrate the dramatic increase in water and oxygen holding ability accomplished by the introduction of a small amount of organic matter. Organic matter is the backbone of the soil matrix.
Coverage Chart
| 1 Cubic Yd. of Compost Covers | ||
|---|---|---|
| 324 sq. ft. | at | 1″ depth |
| 108 sq. ft. | at | 3″ depth |
| 81 sq. ft. | at | 4″ depth |
| 65 sq. ft. | at | 5″ depth |
| 54 sq. ft. | at | 6″ depth |
| Cubic Yds. Req. to Cover 1,000 ft2 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 inch layer | > | 0.75 yd3 |
| 1/2 inch layer | > | 1.5 yd3 |
| 1 inch layer | > | 3.0 yd3 |
| 1 1/2 inch layer | > | 4.5 yd3 |
| 2 inch layer | > | 6.0 yd3 |
| 2 1/2 inch layer | > | 7.5 yd3 |
| 3 inch layer | > | 9.0 yd3 |
Top Dressing Application
| Chart determines cubic yards needed for various depths of coverage. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Square Feet | 1/32″ | 1/16″ | 1/8″ | 1/4″ | 1″ | 2″ | 3″ |
| 1,000 | 0.10 | 0.19 | 0.39 | 0.78 | 3 | 6 | 9 |
| 5,000 | 0.48 | 0.97 | 1.94 | 3.88 | 15.5 | 31 | 46.5 |
| 10,000 | 0.97 | 1.94 | 3.88 | 7.75 | 31 | 62 | 93 |
| 43,560 (1 acre) | 4.22 | 8.44 | 16.88 | 33.76 | 135 | 270 | 405 |
| 100,000 | 9.69 | 19.38 | 38.75 | 77.5 | 310 | 620 | 930 |
New Turf
Depending on the results of your soil test, apply a one to three inch layer of compost to the soil and incorporate it to a depth of five to seven inches. Applying at these levels will equate to a twenty to thirty percent inclusion rate of compost volumetrically. Apply seed to amended area then rake and water.
Turf Maintenance
Apply a one-quarter to one-half inch layer of compost evenly to the turf. This would also be an ideal opportunity to add the additional benefit of core aeration to your turf maintenance program; however, this is not a requirement.
Flower & Garden Beds
Depending on the results of your soil test apply a one to three inch layer of compost to the soil and incorporate it to a depth of six to eight inches. When planting is complete, water as required. Condition the soil this way every one to two years depending on overall soil quality. Compost can also be used as mulch!
Trees and Shrubs
Dig a hole two-thirds the depth of the root ball and at least twice as wide. Mix one part compost with three parts soil obtained from the planting hole. Place the tree or shrub into the planting hole and apply amended soil around the root ball. Water thoroughly then firm up the soil around the base of the plant. Be sure that the pH of your amended soil does not conflict with the pH requirements of your new plantings.
Topsoil Upgrade
Mix twenty to fifty percent compost into your existing soil. Adjust your blend depending on the condition of the existing soil type and plantings that you will be installing.
