Compost is used to make garden soil more fertile and to improve plant production.
Compost is a mixture of soil and partly decayed plant material. It is used to make garden soil more fertile and to improve plant production. It may also be used as a mulch.
On the other hand, fertilizer is a substance added to soil to help make plants grow. Gardeners use fertilizer to produce larger flowers and abundant vegetables. Fertilizers are also used for a thicker, more-attractive lawn. Some fertilizers are made from organic material, while others are made from synthetic compounds. Does this Spark an idea?
Ingredients in Compost
Good materials for compost include coffee grounds, tea bags, banana peels, garlic peels, coffee filters, shredded newspaper, shredded egg cartons and egg shells, garden plant clippings, straw, shredded leaves, cornstalks and horse manure.
Highly unusual materials, including pet fur, river mud, Elmer's glue and stale potato chips, are not recommended.
Red worms are now commonly used for vermicomposting (a form of composting that uses red wiggler worms to break down organic matter).
Ingredients in Fertilizer
Mineral fertilizers are the most widely used fertilizers. They contain three main elements: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Other fertilizers are made from manure and sewage. Calcium, magnesium and sulfur are also present in fertilizers, but only in small quantities.
Organic fertilizers may contain ingredients similar to compost -- egg shells, banana peels, tea bags, coffee grounds, coffee filters and garlic peels. Other ingredients that can be used for a liquid organic fertilizer are cola, beer, ammonia, vinegar and rubbing alcohol. Sea weed and wood ash can also be used.
Functions
Fertilizer does contain more nutrients than compost, but in the long run, compost is healthier for the soil that surrounds plants. Compost helps retain water and keep temperatures balanced. This is especially vital during extreme summer heat and/or frigid winter temperatures.
Fertilizer is food for plants, while compost acts as an insulator and soil temperature regulator. It also provides vital nutrients to plants.
Tips
Fertilize trees in the fall.
Keep sticks and woody stems out of the compost pile, because they take a long time to break down. You may even find manure worms, centipedes and pill bugs in the pile; these creatures are part of the composting environment.
Warnings
Never add pig, dog or cat manure or meat products to compost. These can be harmful to your compost and garden.
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