Unlike peat, compost returns lost nutrients to the soil. It contains all necessary trace elements in the correct proportion, even if in lesser quantities than commercially-available compound fertilisers. Finished compost alone is not suitable for planting. It must be mixed with garden soil.

Tips for the use of compost can be found under:

• Use of fresh compost
• Lawn compost
• Contents of mature compost
• Nutrient requirements of plants

Use of fresh compost

Raw compost is the freshest form of compost. It can be used in the same way as farmyard manure. It is unfinished and contains nutrients in a form that cannot be used by plants. However, it promotes soil life very well. Raw compost can be removed for mulching purposes after three warm months.

Lawn compost

Mix lawn cuttings well with shredded hedge and tree cuttings or with shredded leaves. The added material provides for the necessary aeration. The volume of this mixture is quickly reduced, because the lawn cuttings have a high water content and decompose rapidly. The high wood-content mixture can therefore be enriched, time and again, with well-mixed in, fresh lawn cuttings.

Contents of mature compost	%
Nitrogen	0,5 - 1,5
Phosphorus	0,1 - 0,8
Potash	0,3 - 0,8
Magnesium	0,1 - 2,0
Calcium	1,0 - 1,2
Organic substance	20 - 40
pH value	6,5 - 8,0

Nutrient requirements	Plant type	Compost l/m²
High nitrogen consumers	Tomatoes, cabbage	3
Medium nitrogen consumers	Carrots, onions	2
Low nitrogen consumers	Beans, peas	1
Ornamental plants	Roses, fruit	1
Peat bed plants	Rhododendron	-
Green areas	Ornamental lawns	2
	Flower meadows	1
Garden soils	New gardens	up to 50