Build healthy soil with compost and mulch
Healthy soil holds more nutrients and water and will result in healthier plants. Improving your soil is the best way to save water and work in your lawn and garden. Learn about:
- How to Use Compost and Mulch to build your soil
- Compost and Mulch Calculator to figure how much you need
- Backyard Composting – learn how to make your own compost
- Understand Your Soil and fix soil problems
- Fertilize Responsibly for healthy plants, and to protect our streams and lakes
Quick tips
- Know your soil. Look for thatch, compaction, or other soil problems you can fix.
- Add compost. Dig or till 2-3 inches of compost into the soil when planting new garden beds or lawns. Every 2-3 years, spread another 1 inch on garden beds or ½ inch on lawns.
- Use mulch. Spread 2-3 inches of fall leaves or grass clippings on beds in spring or fall. For woody plants and trees, use wood chips or coarse bark as mulch.
- Fertilize responsibly. Trees and shrubs receive the nutrients they need from compost and mulch. For lawns, flowers, and gardens, look for the words “Natural organic” or “Slow-release” on fertilizer products to feed plants slowly, develop healthier roots, and reduce runoff to our streams and lakes.
More Information
Growing Healthy Soil guide (pdf)
Get to Know Your Soil (pdf)
Composting at Home guide (pdf)
Questions? Call the Garden Hotline at (206) 633-0224 or email help@gardenhotline.org
Links to Other Sites
Seattle Public Utilities’ Backyard Composting has extensive home composting information.
Soils for Salmon show landscape designers and builders how to protect and restore soil on construction sites, to meet Washington State’s requirements.