Compost as lawn fertilizer is suitable for your garden and the environment. Vegetable scraps, grass clippings, fallen leaves, and coffee grounds are used to make compost fertilizer. Instead of dumping these wastes, recycle them to improve the soil on your lawn. Recycling these organic wastes also prevents the landfill from filling with food waste and yard debris. If you are a novice gardener or if you are experienced in making compost, here are some tips for using compost. 

How Much to Use

Compost is the most effective garden amendment. Compost fertilizer improves soil texture and encourages the growth of earthworms and other beneficial microorganisms. 

As a rule of the thumb, apply compost ¼ inch to ½ inch on the topsoil. To amend the soil, the compost should be 1 to 2 inches in a thick layer. In a soil blend, the compost should be 30%. You should also measure the dimensions of the planting area and the desired depth. The dimensions will help you determine the amount of compost that you need. 

When to Use It

As a gardener, you can make black compost by mixing leaves and hay with grass and other garden craps. Mix the pile frequently to achieve efficiency.

Late fall is the best time to apply compost on your lawn. Cover the compost with chopped leaves. By spring, soil organisms will have integrated the compost into the soil. You can also add compost into the ground two weeks before planting during spring. However, you can spread compost at any time. The benefits are the same.

Safe Handling

When handling compost, practice safe personal hygiene. To control the impacts of the pathogens in the compost, always sanitize. Wash your hands after handling compost, or use gloves. Water the compost if it is dusty. 

If you have a weak immune system or underlying medical conditions, be cautious as you handle compost. Additionally, you should avoid adding raw meat or pet feces into the compost.

What If You See Pests?

As a gardener, pests and fleas in your compost are a source of concern. Here are a few basics to avoid pests:

• Avoid adding meat or animal waste to the compost pile.

• Place a layer of dry leaves at the bottom of the pile to allow good drainage.

• Place the compost in a well-drained area with sunshine.

• Turn the pile once a week to improve aeration.

What If You See Fungi?

An imbalance between soil temperatures and moisture levels creates a white fungus on the compost. The fungus is a decomposer and is a good thing. Fungus in manure indicates the initial step in the waste breakdown. The fungus helps a lot in the decomposition process. The growth of fungus should be encouraged in the compost.

Compost helps your lawn grow better and improves the soil in your yard. Besides, composting benefits your environment by reducing pollution. Using compost instead of chemical fertilizer keeps away toxins from air and water. As a gardener, embrace compost as your lawn fertilizer.

Compost is decomposed organic materials, which make up a lot of what households throw away. According to research carried out by the frontier group, organic wastes take up 28.2% of America's garbage. These wastes decompose quickly and can help you add nutrients and micro bacteria to your soil, ensure better moisture retention, and improve your lawn's health. All these benefits are achieved while also sparing your family and pets from harmful chemical herbicides and fertilizers. Here are tips for working compost into your lawn the right way.

1. Prepare the Soil

Pick a day with no rain, and go outside. Take a bit of soil in your hand, and squeeze it. According to Michigan State University, you can work with the soil if it crumbles into pieces. If it stays intact, it is still wet, and you will need to prepare it on another day. For the next steps, you will need an aerating tool, a rake, wheelbarrow, a shovel, and the compost.

2. Aerate the Soil

Before applying the compost, start by aerating the soil, which entails punching holes into the ground. The process of aeration should start with raking deeply to remove the lawn thatch.

Lawn aeration helps break down compacted soil, thus allowing water, oxygen, and nutrients to penetrate the grass's roots. It is best to aerate the lawn when it is vigorously growing; this allows the grass to rebound faster.

3. Add Compost to the Lawn

Using your wheelbarrow and shovel, scatter the compost everywhere across the lawn. Use a rake to distribute evenly across the entire yard. When applying compost across an existing lawn, ensure it is less than a half-inch deep. The grass blades should not be covered, and they should still get sufficient sunlight and oxygen. On the other hand, when top dressing a seeded lawn, use about a quarter-inch of compost to ensure the seeds germinate.

4. Water the Lawn

Watering your soil after composting moistens the compost and thus trickles further into the ground. Remember, you need to set the sprayer at its lowest setting to avoid washing away the compost or seeds.

Additional Tips

• Scatter the compost while moving back to avoid compacting it into the lawn.

• Start spreading the compost from the lawn's perimeter and then do the rest of the yard.

• Compost can also be used to treat the weak, thin, and brown spots on your turf.

• Applying compost to your lawn once or twice a year benefits the garden more than the processed and synthetic quick-fix products.

• Make your compost or purchase it from a trusted source. Make sure the compost is sterilized to rid it of weed seeds and diseases.

Conclusion

Using compost benefits your lawn and saves you money. It protects the environment from pollution as it is nature's way to recycle. Navigating it the right way will keep your grass greener for longer, making you and your lawn the talk of the town.