FAQ

Soil is a combination of many materials including:

• particles of minerals and rock
• decaying and decomposing (humus or compost) organic matter
• living organisms including microscopic bacteria and fungi as well as larger creatures such as earthworms
• air and water

A good quality soil is a balanced combination of all of the above materials. The addition of compost to soil improves the balance and creates a healthy productive soil.

Organic matter is vital to productive soils and healthy plant growth. Compost is an excellent source of organic matter that promotes biologically active soil by adding beneficial micro-organisms. By incorporating compost it is possible to add life and organic matter to the soil. Adding life to the soil will replicate native soil systems. Shrubs, trees and grasslands thrived without fertilizer or pesticides. The micro-organisms will thrive and multiply to fight many soil-bourne diseases and increase nutrient supply to plants.

There are many other benefits of using compost. Compost helps sandy soils retain moisture, breaks up clay in heavy soils, adds nutrients, helps improve drainage, reduces erosion, and relieves compaction. It also makes most soil more workable for yearly planting and weeding.

The most basic benefit of adding any type of compost to the soil is the food it provides for soil micro flora. As research continues to be conducted in the complex soil foodweb world, it is obvious that there is a major connection between soil “life” or micro flora activity and high levels of organic matter. Soils that have higher organic matter allow plants to respond more favorably to unexpected climatic changes like too much or too little water. Disease is less severe in many cases or the plants are simply able to naturally fight off the disease because they are in better general health. All of these factors contribute to beneficial complex relationships in the soil that are maximized by the addition of quality organic matter, compost.

Take a look at our web site on the FERTILIZER page for detailed information.

Take a look at our web site on the MULCH page for detailed information.

To determine the amount of compost needed for an area (usually expressed in cubic yards or metres), measure the length and width of the area and multiply it by the depth of compost required (measure the length in feet x width in feet x depth in inches x 0.003 =cubic yards of compost required). It is often hard to determine when enough is enough. Therefore, measure carefully and apply the recommended amount to exactly the area designated and spread evenly before incorporating. Based on a 40 litre size bag there are approximately 19 bags in a cubic yard. A requirement for 1/2 a yard would therefore require about 10 bags.

Here are some suggestions:

• 1 bag of Natures Gold Fertilizer will cover up to 40 sq. feet on established gardens. 1 bag will cover up to 200 sq. feet for top dressed lawns.
• 1 bag of Natures Gold Landscape Fertilizer Mulch will cover up to 8 sq. feet when applied as a mulch 2″ thick.

Bulk Supplies are available in 1 to 25 yard deliveries.

• 1 yard of Natures Gold Fertilizer covers approx. 300 sq. feet if applied 1″ thick mixed in with the top 3″ soil.
• 1 yard of Natures Gold Landscape Fertilizer Mulch covers approx. 150 sq. feet if applied 2″ thick.