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WASHTENAW COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT
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    • Well Water Testing
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    • NRCS Farm Bill Programs
    • MAEAP
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Composting & Mulches

Picture
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.

Washtenaw County Conservation District
(734) 302-8715
info@washtenawcd.org

​ 705 N. Zeeb Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Copyright 2020
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Annual Reports
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    • Board of Directors
    • Staff >
      • Career Opportunities
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    • 2020 Millage
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    • Annual Meeting
    • Conservation Update Newsletter
    • WCCD in the News
  • Store
  • Resources
    • School & Community Habitat Grant >
      • 2021 Awardees >
        • 2021 - Bird Center of Michigan
      • Applicant Resources
    • Rain barrels & Composters >
      • Rain Barrels Information
      • Rain Barrel Common Questions
    • Tool and Equipment Rental >
      • Rental Calendar
    • Contractor Lists
    • Hunter Access Program
  • Events
    • 2022 Native Plant Expo & Marketplace >
      • 2022 Sponsors
      • 2022 Spring Native Plant pre-sale
      • 2022 Speaker Series
    • Tree & Shrub Distributions >
      • 2021 Spring Tree & Shrub
      • Spring Tree & Shrub Distribution Volunteering
    • Fish Stock Day
    • Well Water Testing
    • Public Meetings Calendar
  • Conservation Planning
    • NRCS Farm Bill Programs
    • MAEAP
    • Farmer Cost-Share Opportunities
    • MI Farmland Preservation
    • Invasive Species
  • Education
    • Workshops & Programs >
      • Community Conservation Education
      • Conservation Agriculture Education
      • Conservation Stewards Program
    • Online resources >
      • Agriculture >
        • Farmland Preservation
        • Soils >
          • Washtenaw County Soils
          • Soil Sampling >
            • Soil Sampling Article
            • Homeowner Soil Testing
            • Agricultural Soil Testing
        • Windbreaks
        • Composting >
          • Composters
      • Forestry >
        • Tree & Shrub Planting Guide
        • Common Tree Diseases & Pests
        • Crop Tree Management
        • Fruit Tree Planting & Care
        • Likelihood of Deer Damage
        • Other Forestry Links
        • Pruning Forest Trees
        • Timber Sales
        • Urban Trees
      • Insects >
        • Animal & Insect Repellents
      • Invasive Species & Control
      • Native Plants >
        • Planting Native Plants
        • Seeding Wildflowers
      • Recycling
      • Water >
        • Groundwater >
          • Groundwater Protection - Agriculture
        • Pond Construction >
          • Pond Management
        • Rain Gardens
        • Shoreline Property
        • Stormwater Runoff & Management
        • Stream Bank Erosion and Control
        • Wells >
          • Water Testing
          • Water Screening Events
        • Wetlands >
          • Wetland Mitigation Banking
        • Wildlife >
          • Brush Piles
          • Clearcutting
          • Den Trees
      • Tree of Heaven
  • Get Involved
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