Pros and life-long hobbyists know the best greenery is a byproduct of hard work, a personal touch and a working knowledge of the science of soil.  According to the U.S. Composting Council, compost is the result of controlled, biological decomposition of organic material – a process that in ecosystems untouched by humans occurs naturally over the seasons.  At St. Louis Composting, we are Mother Nature’s helpers, turning raw material into compost in as little as three months – without the use of any chemical additives.

The true beauty of compost and the composting process is that it is 100% efficient. All material that enters the process is organic and naturally full of the essential nutrients – nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium –that form the foundation of productive soil.  The same natural material promotes the proliferation of beneficial microorganisms that help humus to form and enable roots to flourish and more readily absorb nutrients.  After garden pros use compost to grow beautiful produce, greenery and flowers – any spent plant material can be incorporated back into a new composting cycle.

Compost is a multi-tasking agent with the unique ability to naturally improve the chemical, physical and biological components of soil. Benefits include:

• Improved plant/turf quality. Compost reduces transplant shock and longer term, decreases plant stress response to drought, disease and insects. Because of the intense heat generated in compost piles, compost contains no weeds, insects or insect eggs/ larvae. It also reduces salt damage by restoring pH balance to soil.

• Stronger soil structure.Thanks to a high humus content, compost reduces the compaction of heavy soil, enhances sandy soil and increases both top-soil and soil fertility while rebuilding worn-out soil. Over time, compost makes any type of soil easier to work.

• Long-lasting improvements. Rain and watering cause chemical fertilizers to leach out of soil. Conversely, compost binds with the soil and releases its nutrients over a multi-year period.

• Improved irrigation. Compost can hold six times its weight in water, which reduces the need for and cost of irrigation.

Click here for more reasons to use compost from the U.S. Composting Council.

Click Here to Learn How Compost Can Help Your Garden Grow