Compost & Soil Mixes For Lawns and Gardens St. Louis Metro & Surrounding Areas
What is Compost and how does it work?
Compost is decomposed organic material in a controlled manner. It is 100% organic and typically includes yard waste including leaves, spent plant material and animal waste (manure). By controlling the process of decomposition, it allows the bad organisms to be “cooked” out while increasing the good microorganisms that help feed plants.
Due to the high heat produced by compost piles, it eliminates weeds, insects, insect eggs and larvae. It also allows the right balance of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium which are essential nutrients that form the foundation of productive soil. Compost is the only product that changes both the physical and chemical make up of your soil. It works with both porous and non-porous soils. It holds together porous soils (sandy soils) and helps break up non-porous/compacted soils (clay soils). This allows for better water retention and air circulation. Compost attracts bad chemicals in the soil while replacing them with the good chemicals and microorganisms. Compost acts as a natural filter for your soil. This process aids in less run off of your “good” chemicals while also aiding in less erosion.
The use of compost for top dressing lawns, at a depth of approximately 1⁄2″, has been shown to be most effective when used in conjunction with aerating and over seeding. This is because it allows the compost to penetrate the soil (fill the plugs from aerating) to a depth of approximately 2″. It also acts as a protective blanket and incubator for the seed. This allows less movement of the seed while producing a higher sprout yield. Due to the compost being able to condition the soil under the surface, it allows the grass to grow a deeper, stronger root system. This is important because it enables your grass to better handle the stress of routine mowing and foot traffic. A deeper, stronger root system allows the grass to better handle the stress of droughts, disease and insects. A healthier root system also allows for less room for weed seeds to be able to germinate and grow. Using compost is not only an effective organic product but is also a way for you to contribute to the recycling process. By the creation and use of compost, it keeps unnecessary waste from going into our overcrowded landfills. This allows less greenhouse gases to be released into the atmosphere as well.
Why Should I Dress With Compost?
- Compost smoothes a turf’s surface, enhances thatch decomposition, reduces compaction, and encourages air/water movement into soil.
- 100% effective rate when used correctly.
- Allows for faster seed germination, longer root establishment, along with promoting hardy growth.
- Re-establishes organic matter, and the carbon/nitrogen cycles in the soil.
- Binds and degrades a variety of chemical contaminants (including synthetic herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers).
- Properly composted lawns are more disease resistant and due to the microbial action at work within the compost, it binds all the pesticides and herbicides in the top 15 in. of the soil.
- Compost provides pore space to the ground which improves its ability to retain water. As a result, your lawn will be more drought resistant. Studies show that lawns with the proper organic material incorporated to a depth of 3″ will require 30% less irrigation – more savings!
Remember, by just using compost once you’ve probably done more for your lawn than an entire year of synthetic treatments. Imagine the possibilities if used on an annual basis. Make top dressing with compost part of your yearly lawn treatments with our blown in installation methods and enjoy the results!
Our soil mixes are great for the following applications:
- Gardens and raised beds
- New lawns
- Erosion control
- Bioretention Areas
What Our Customers Are Saying. Our Reviews
Our work speaks for itself. Read what our customers have to say about our exceptional mulching and resurfacing work.
More ReviewsWe used Express Mulch last year and loved the results! The crew was very professional and did beautiful work. Unfortunately the blower on the truck broke and all 27 yards of mulch had to be hand delivered through the yard. That didn’t stop the crew and the results were beautiful! I couldn’t have been happier. We are all set to add mulch again this year. Great company to work with and Andrea is very friendly and efficient.
This is the third year we have used Express Mulch. Again, a great experience. Andria gets me on the schedule and is friendly and helpful. The crew is friendly and hard working. They listen to my instructions and then get the job done. The mulch is sprayed into place so it is not endless hours of wheel barrow work. The reduced labor time more than makes up for any cost increase per cu yd. We will use Express mulch again next year because it is cost efficient and they are reliable, tidy, good workers.
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