Prairieland Compost Facility

Lawn and Garden Use of Prairieland Compost

Composting municipal solid waste is a method of breaking down organic components of garbage, such as paper, food scraps and yard waste, into organic material known as compost. This process was chosen in 1990, for the garbage in Faribault and martin Counties. At the present time a large percentage of the garbage produced in Faribault and Martin Counties goes to the Prairieland Compost Facility in Truman, Minnesota to be made into compost.

Benefits of Prairieland Compost in Lawn and Garden Use:

Compost increases the organic matter in soil and improves the soil structure. It also increases aeration, allows water to be held in the root zone of the pants for a longer period of time, helps in the transfer of nutrients from the soil into the water and then to the roots of the plants, provides enhanced soil aggregation and reduces soil erosion.

The compost produced from municipal solid waste does not contain large amounts of nutrients, but it does have small amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. It also contains trace amounts of iron, copper and zinc.

Recommendations for the Application of Prairieland Compost on Turf:

	Compost can be applied to existing grass areas.
	Apply compost uniformly to no more than a 1/4 inch depth.
	Apply compost 2-3 times per year to build organic matter on your lawn or grassy area. Several thin applications are better than one deep application.
	To ensure lawn quality, test the soil after the compost application to determine if additional nutrients are needed for your lawn. Compost won't add a significant amount of nutrients to the soil, but testing will indicate the amount, if any, fertilizer that may need to be added.

Recommendations for the Application of Prairieland Compost on Gardens:

	Compost can be applied either in the spring or fall of the year, but fall application is preferable. Ideally, compost should be applied near the end of October and mixed well into the soil. It will be then be ready, after tillage, for spring planting.
	If applying compost in the spring. Apply compost as early as possible and work well into the soil. Allow the garden to stand for two to three weeks, preferable through several rain events before planting garden seeds or bedding pants.
	Compost applied either in the spring or fall, should be applied to a thickness of 1/2 to 1 inch. Be sure it is very well mixed with garden soil.