Compost for Lawn - an Eco-Friendly way towards Healthy Turf

If you want to get your turf looking as healthy as possible with minimal effort, as well as helping the environment, then consider using your compost as a helper!

It may seem a little strange but using compost as a top dressing for your turf has a huge range of benefits both for your lawn and the environment. From healthy nutrients to reducing landfill additions, compost has some awesome advantages and helps your lawn grow big and strong. And we’re here to help you out with a few tips!

Compost is a common addition to many households, with food scraps, coffee grounds and newspapers being added into a bin throughout the year. Compost is made of green waste, the nitrogen component, and brown waste, which is the carbon component. You will likely need more brown waste, so your compost doesn’t become too moist with an unpleasant smell, but too much brown waste can result in a dry consistency. A balance is key, and your turf will thank you for it in the future!

Compost can be made of things such as:

·      Grass clippings

·      Soiled food waste

·      Hair (this includes pet and human hair)

·      Eggshells

·      Beer

·      Cardboard

And so much more – a huge range of things can be added, instead of going in the garbage bin. A great thing for the environment too!

So, when should you put compost on your lawn? It is very important to ensure that you place compost on your lawn at the right time, so your lawn receives the most benefits. Once your compost has broken down and almost resembles soil, that it is when it is ready to use… and it shouldn’t smell too bad either! If you are finding your compost is putting off a pungent odour, it isn’t ready to be used quite yet – always wait until the unpleasant smell has almost gone before utilising. If you would like to speed the process up, teabags are a great addition!

As for time of year, generally consider adding compost to your lawn in the spring. Top dressing must be completed during the growing season (ie. When your lawn needs mowing every week) and, where possible, the earlier the better, so late spring/early summer is ideal.

What benefits does a properly broken-down and aged compost offer when used as a top dressing for your lawn? It will:

·      Provide moisture for your lawn.

·      Provide an environment which is beneficial for microbial activity.

·      Provide organic nutrients for your lawn.

·      Provide key ingredients to keep your lawn staying healthy.

·      Droughtproof your lawn, as compost improves a soils’ ability to hold moisture.

And let’s not forget the environmentally friendly additions too! Composting ensures less waste is filling our landfills and is multi-use, making it a great addition to any home which is considering more eco-friendly choices to make in everyday life.

If you would like to know more about lawn, we would be more than happy to have a chat so give Rosemount Turf a call today!

Resources:

Lawn Solutions Australia (5 things you didn’t know you could compost):https://lawnsolutionsaustralia.com.au/lawn-care/yard-inspiration/5-things-didnt-know-compost/

Lawn Solutions Australia (5 ways to use your grass clippings): https://lawnsolutionsaustralia.com.au/lawn-care/grass-clippings/

Lawn Solutions (How to top dress your lawn):https://lawnsolutionsaustralia.com.au/lawn-care/other-lawn-maintenance/how-to-top-dress-your-lawn/