Information About Compost and Compost Use

Compost is a soil amendment used in lawns, gardens, and agriculture to improve soil health and water retention. Compost can either be mixed into the top six inches of your soil or applied as a top dressing. Adding compost to soil allows key microbes and plant roots to thrive by providing nutrients, minerals, and, perhaps most importantly, organic matter.

Like chemical fertilizer, compost contains the three primary nutrients needed by plants: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. It also includes traces of other essential elements not found in fertilizers, like calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc. However, compost ranks above all other soil amendments on the market because of the organic matter it adds to the soil. Organic matter improves soil structure and provides pore spaces for better water infiltration and retention.

Compost is made through the natural process of decomposition. After a plant dies, it decomposes and is transformed into a humus-like material that goes back into the soil to provide nutrients for the next generation of plants. In nature, it can take upwards of a hundred years for a single tree to decompose and become compost, but compost manufacturers can turn hundreds of trees into rich, dark compost in a matter of weeks. Compost manufacturers use the same natural process as mother nature, but manufacturers provide the ideal environment for bacteria, fungi, and other decomposers to do their work quickly and efficiently.

At a time when climate change is cited as the number one issue facing the world, composting is viewed as an environmentally sound way for municipalities to manage yard and food waste. Among other benefits, composting organic waste is preferred to landfilling it because zero methane emissions are produced in the composting process. In 2022, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued a statewide organics management plan. The plan is a multi-year proposal to increase organics recycling in Colorado, and it relies heavily on composting.

The Mesa County Organic Materials Composting Facility opened in September of 2001. The facility's goals are to:

• Improve Mesa County's air quality by providing an alternative disposal mechanism to burning yard waste.
• Extend the health and the life of the landfill by removing organic wastes that can lead to landfill fires and harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
• Create a valuable soil amendment with which the profits of its sale can be used to fund the facility's operation.

Mesa County’s Organic Materials Composting Facility utilizes specialized heavy equipment to create an environment favorable to naturally occurring bacteria and fungi. Over a period of four to six months, these soil microbes are able to transform organic waste, such as grass clippings, leaves, and tree trimmings, into rich, dark compost. Mesa County is a proud participant of the US Composting Council's STA Certified Compost program. All compost products manufactured at the composting facility are tested at a soil lab ensuring our compost is high-quality and weed and seed free.

Benefits

• Increases water & nutrient retention
• Superior plant performance
• Enhanced turf response
• Reduces run-off & surface erosion
• High in organic matter & soil microbes
• Improves aeration, porosity, & drainage

Mesa Magic 1/2" Compost

This compost has been screened to 1/2" minus and contains significant amounts of stabilized organic matter providing a slow release of nutrients throughout the year. It can be applied at any time of the year and is best suited for large-scale residential, commercial, and agricultural applications. It is well suited for use in clay soils where it can be applied at twice the normal application rate.

Soil preparation

To prepare existing soil for seed or sod, rototill or disc the area to a depth of 6 inches. Apply Mesa Magic to the worked soil at the rate of 3 cubic yards per 1,000 square feet. This is equivalent to a one-inch layer of compost over the entire worked area. Re-till the area to mix the compost in the top 6 inches of soil. Your soil is now ready for seed or sod.

Shrub and tree planting

Excavate a hole three to four times larger than the root ball. Mix Mesa Magic with the excavated soil in a 1:2 ratio; one part Mesa Magic to two parts soil. Place the plant in the hole and backfill it with compost-amended soil while watering heavily. Gently compact the wet soil around the root ball to eliminate trapped pockets of air.

Vegetable garden

Apply a uniform layer of Mesa Magic one inch thick across the garden area. Till the compost layer into the soil to a depth of 3 to 6 inches. Plant and water. The best results occur when compost is added to the garden every year.

Mesa Magic 1/4"

This compost has been screened to 1/4" minus and provides a quicker release of nutrients than 1/2" compost. It can be applied at any time of the year and is best suited for large and small-scale residential and commercial applications. It is well suited for use in any type of soil.

Soil preparation

To prepare existing soil for seed or sod, rototill or disc the area to a depth of 6 inches. Apply Mesa Magic to the worked soil at the rate of 1.5 cubic yards per 1,000 square feet. This is equivalent to a half-inch layer of compost over the entire worked area. Re-till the area to mix the compost in the top 6 inches of soil. Your soil is now ready for seed or sod.

Shrub and tree planting

Excavate a hole three to four times larger than the root ball. Mix Mesa Magic with the excavated soil in a 1:2 ratio; one part Mesa Magic to two parts soil. Place the plant in the hole and backfill it with compost-amended soil while watering heavily. Gently compact the wet soil around the root ball to eliminate trapped pockets of air.

Vegetable garden

Apply a uniform layer of Mesa Magic a half-inch thick across the garden area. Till the compost layer into the soil to a depth of 3 to 6 inches. Plant and water. The best results occur when compost is added to the garden every year.

Ultra Fine Compost

Ultra Fine Compost has a very fine consistency, which makes it suitable for applying to closely mown turf. It works best when applied in the spring or fall as a top dressing for established lawns or gardens. Ultra Fine Compost is available seasonally; please call to check availability.

Top dressing after plug aeration

After plug aerating a lawn, apply Ultra Fine Compost at a maximum depth of 1/4" across the surface of the lawn. Lightly rake the area and follow with a deep watering. Ultra Fine will fill in the voids from aeration.

Spot treatment

For bare spots and weak turf areas, use a tine fork or a spiking tool to poke holes and aerate the soil. Spread Ultra Fine Compost at a maximum depth of 1/4" and work into the holes. Water thoroughly after application.

Benefits

• Increases water & nutrient retention
• Superior plant performance
• Reduces weed growth & pest population
• Reduces run-off & surface erosion
• Insulates plants & gardens
• Improves aeration, porosity, & drainage
• Looks beautiful

Large and small wood mulch

Wood mulch has a variety of useful applications. It can be used around the base of trees and shrubs to help retain soil moisture, moderate soil temperature fluctuations, and suppress weed growth. Mulch can be spread in areas subject to wind and water erosion to prevent the loss of topsoil. It can also be used to create pathways, allowing for travel without worrying about tracking mud. Better still, when you are ready to do something else in the area, you won't have the headache of removing mulch like you would have to do with decorative rock and gravel because mulch can easily be worked into the existing soil!

Simply apply two to four inches of mulch in any location you want to increase water retention, prevent erosion, or beautify. Over time mulch will need to be reapplied as the material gets worn into the soil. Typically, large mulch does not have to be reapplied as often as small mulch.