Composting & Mulches

Compost is one of nature's best mulches and soil amendments, and you can use it instead of commercial fertilizers. Using compost improves soil structure, texture, and aeration and increases the soil's water-holding capacity. Compost loosens clay soils and helps sandy soils retain water. Adding compost improves soil fertility and stimulates healthy root development in plants. The organic matter in compost provides food for microorganisms, which keeps the soil in a healthy, balanced condition. This allows nutrients to be produced naturally by the feeding of the microorganisms, so few if any soil amendments will need to be added.

Guides to Composting

• How to Make Compost, A Composting Guide

• Composting
• Composting with Worms

For mulches or wood chips, you can often find affordable large quantities from local municipal services. For wood chips, it's recommended to purchase ones that are seasoned and free of weed seeds. Some local municipal composting facilities include:

• Ann Arbor Compost Facility
• Ypsilanti Township Compost Site

It's possible to get woodchips from local arborists working in your area as well. ChipDrop is an organization that makes this connection easier.

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