Which Compost is Best 🏡😈🍻 Compare Different Composts

Which compost should you use; homemade, composted manure, mushroom, vernicompost, Bokashi, biosolids?
0:00 start
4:18 home compost
6:07 Municipal compost
7:29 biosolids
9:36 manure
11:55 mushroom compost
14:40 vermicompost
16:54 Bokashi
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Which Compost is Best 🏡😈🍻 Compare Different Composts
I compare homemade compost, municipal compost, biosolids, vermicompost, manure compost, bokashi and mushroom compost
List of Credits:
Images:
All slides and videos belong to GardenFundamentals.com or are public domain images, except for the following:
Subscribe button by Shamsullah shams khan khiljee: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
large compost pile by SB Johnny:commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
vermicomposting factory by Ali Safdarian; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
hand holding vermicompost by Emmanuel Eslava; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
composting facility by Oliver Dixon: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
pumpkins growing in biosolids by Red58bill; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Horse muck by Richard Webb; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Mushroom farm by Andrew Bossi; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Worm bin with worms crawling out by Toby Hudson; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Worm bin with no worms by Quadell; commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
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[@chocolate_chip21]

These videos couldn't be any better! They breakdown the fundamentals of gardening so you actually understand the reasoning behind your actions. You won't have to memorize what to do anymore. You can be the free thinking gardener that can adapt to changes in the garden because you'll understand what to do and when. Thank you so much for these great videos!

[@phillipbroomall7353]

Two comments to add. First, about biosolids, by law many industries have to pretreatment their wastewater to remove certain chemicals before discharging to the local wastewater collection system. Specific testing has to be done before the industrial wastewater is discharged. Second, about commercial mushroom compost, my Dad spent over fifty years as a mushroom grower. Most commercial mushroom compost are based on horse manure from racetracks and horse farms. The composting process is a hot one. Then as part of the preparation for inoculating the compost with mushroom spawn, the compost is pasteurized at 150 degrees to kill pests and diseases of the mushrooms. After the mushrooms have been grown, many times the used compost is pasteurized again to control mushroom pests before it is dumped out. In the making of the compost things like cotton seed meal or oil or dried biosolids are added to meet the nutritional needs of the mushrooms. Someplaces put a layer of pasteurized soil or peat moss on top of the compost to help induce the fruiting process of the mushrooms. Mushroom compost is more complex than presented in the video. It is really worth the effort to put on the garden because of not only for the plant nutrients, but also how it improves the structure of the soil.

[@wakamoli8248]

Yes you are correct at a minimum of 150 degrees for manure but other compost may require 3 or 15 days consecutive days between 131 to 170 degrees depending on the material.

[@baddoggie101]

I have recently noticed the amount of wood chips added to a bag of "compost". It is like a cheap filler material they can add to make another penny. If they could add more air they would do that too.

[@Betty-qd8st]

Yes, I noticed that too. Then the wood chips takes up nutrients away from the plants.

[@skinnyWHITEgoyim]

Potting soil is the same way. I bought a few bags of happy frog potting soil for over 20 dollars a bag... almost double the price of miracle grow at the same quantity. It was about one 3rd wood chips. I had to sift it out and i uses the wood chips for mulch on my tomatoes.

[@racebiketuner]

Yup. If you look carefully, many wood fines have red, blue or blue paint on their edges - the common colors that large pallets manufacturers use to identify their brand/type. So these "forest products" are actually broken pallets that have gone through a very fine chipper.

[@jayski9410]

I think the bag products are adding coloring to the compost as well. When it first comes out of the bag it looks almost black rich and dark. But after a few waterings, it washes off and that's when I see the uncomposted wood chips.

[@FirstLast-numba1]

who cares how much air they add if its sold by weight ?

[@ArthurDentZaphodBeeb]

So refreshing to hear straightforward, factual 'non magic' discussion of these topics.

[@timothyaure9602]

Years ago, I had a farmer friend that allowed me to clean out his calf huts. One spring he had a manure spreader whose chain that run the flinger broke and the trailer had to be unloaded to repair it. Here I was shoveling it into my little 5'x8' trailer when I looked at the hitch which matched my truck hitch, you see where I'm going with this. Ours was a newly, being built neighborhood, so I had a little more latitude. For the next 5-6 years I had broccoli as big as cabbage heads. Weeds pulled with ease. I wish I had a local farmer close by today... 40 years later, even for the much smaller trailer loads! I now collect leaves in the fall.

[@michaelcooney7687]

I BOKASHi everything. Kitchen scraps, garden wastes/trimmings/spent fruit and vegetables, all goes into my Bokashi buckets. I have 20 litre (5gal) pails. A top pail with small holes drilled in the bottom fits into the bottom pail that catches all the juices that leach out as the Bokashi ferments. The system needs to be tightly compressed as it runs optimally in an anaerobic (without access to air) environment. In the summer the process will take about 2-4 weeks but in the winter it slows down significantly. I empty the finished product into my tumbling composter. The real essential value is the remaining leachate that is collected in the bottom pail. There is 1-2 litres and it is never to be used directly anywhere as it’s anaerobic virtue makes it toxic (I believe). I pour this smelly liquid into a 150 litre(30gal) plastic drum that has an aeration stone and fish tank air pump that promotes the aerobic bloom to populate the total liquid volume. After a week of bubbling I pour that aerated liquid onto my garden laced with any liquid fertiliser of choice (fish/kelp). Every 2~4 weeks my plants are fed like this and from results it appears to be a winning combination. There’s a fair amount of labour involved doing this however virtually anything I plant will thrive and fruit outstandingly. This is definitely my green thumb advantage and as I have only been growing for a couple of years it appears to be working extremely well.

[@alexandrevaliquette3883]

2:53 Haaaaaaaaaaaa a scientific guy in this soil fantasy!!!! This is the second video I've watch from you... You've just got a new subscriber from Montréal!!!!

[@kathrynmettelka7216]

My physical ability to make compost is limited age, 74, and health, sciatica, so I'm buying compost at local yard. It seems to work well. My municipality sells its compost and some local gardeners complain of weeds from it. I also use leaves, which many people discard, perhaps afraid of untidiness. Their gardens often look almost artificial, certainly unnatural. Thank you for solid scientific analysis.

[@davidmascio1896]

For my garden, I just throw vegetable, fruits waste into my garden throughout winter. I turn it over every so often. I also put in my fireplace ash, grass cuttings before planting, and leaves I vacuumed up in the spring and fall. This has made my vegetables and garden boom. Bern doing this for about 6 years and it has worked great for me.

[@voidmaker9296]

I agree with everything more or less, I just have to say look into microbes more because they are a lot more beneficial then once thought to be.

[@leeannmoore3158]

My parents added "bio solids" years ago to their garden. I remember getting about 20 peppers from just one plant. Everything grew like crazy!

[@Digeroo123]

Municipal compost used to be free here in the UK. But not any more, they have realised that they have a valuable product. It is now used as the basis for a lot of commercially available soil mixes.

[@JoeBoppyBop]

Thank you for taking the time to present such a clear and concise scientifically based explanation about the different types of compost. I found it very helpful.

[@judymckerrow6720]

We have a pile of well rotted sheep manure in the pasture, I’m going to be shoveling that out this spring for sure💚🙃 I should have mentioned I have heavy clay soil so It will be a great benefit.💚🙃 I’m so glad I stumbled onto your channel, my husband was listening, as I was,to your explanations on things and he committed on how much he liked the way you explain everything, so people can understand it, layman’s terms. Thanks again!💚🙃

[@chachadodds5860]

The nuances to this subject are these: 1. How much organic matter does your application require? I.e. dirt that is clay-based or lacking in loam will need more. 2. What are the levels of beneficial microbes present in your soil? Dirt lacking in loam will also be lacking in microbes. Vermicompost can provide a good start to building that environment.

[@jasperthomas8048]

I built new raised beds this year and filled them with bagged top soil and cow manure from our local home store. Plants we also purchased and things looked good. But then the whole garden seemed to stall, the tomatoes and peppers leaves curled, watermelon squash and cucumbers yellowed and were stunted. I tested the soil and found the ph to be a little high (7 ish) but everything else ok. I am suspecting some form of herbicide in the soil or manure. I have a couple of plants that seem to be better than other so not a complete loss. Really think I will use my own compost from now on, and supplement with fertilizer. Love your videos. I need a hat!

[@WhatWeDoChannel]

That has become such a common story lately! Pastures are sprayed with Grazon or like products and the resulting manure can kill most vegetable plants! You can grow corn in that soil as it is a grass, and I hear the Cole crops aren’t too badly affected either. It’ll break down in a few years.

[@joniboulware1436]

I thought that was my problem the first year too. Once I mixed up my raised bed soil with plenty of compost, the whole bed started getting hot. Turns out the compost wasn't fully composted and the oxygen got it started. Had to wait a few weeks.

[@GetMeThere1]

Wow! Quite an eye-opener. You're going to save me a lot of money on vermicompost, lol.

[@mannaman]

Not only the chemical contaminants you mention, but there is also a good chance of pharmaceutical contamination.

[@goldierocks.]

Exactly

[@jimparker7778]

In many places the soil used to build new homes is mostly sand or clay. Neither of these have much in the way of organic matter, so gardeners like to add manure or leaf mold to the soil to beef it up a bit. Soils that have been augmented with rotting leaves, manure or grass clippings will "feed" the bacteria in the dirt and eventually the dirt begins to produce better results. They also retain moisture better. A simple rule that keeps you out of trouble is this: Don't use compost from unknown sources if you plan to raise vegetables in the soil. If you are just growing flower beds or ornamentals it's fine.

[@TheLowLandGardener]

The best compost for me is the one that is the most broken down material which means it has little steps to convert into readilly available nutrients to plant. The more broken down the faster the result.

[@JimGriffOne]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. I greatly appreciate your time putting the video together for us.

[@englishsteve1465]

Best gardening channel I've seen for straight forward, useful info. Liked, subbed, all notifications !

[@annadavis6361]

Thank you so much for the information, getting close to planting time here on the East Coast.

[@lyubay.3870]

Thank you for the explanatory video. very helpful as usual.

[@evelynbrooks8558]

excellent information! clear, down to earth and honest. Thank you!

[@canadiangemstones7636]

Best gardening content on YT. Just amazing. Thanks!

[@mkoutdoors1987]

Great video, just what i was looking, very informative, Thanks

[@giftofgardeningandmore5368]

Very informative !!! Thanks for sharing !!!

[@terrywallace5181]

This video came to me just as I needed it. I have a compost tumbler in which I am using coffee grounds, potato and onion tops/bottoms and expired packages of salad greens combined with pine shavings and paper towels and napkins as my carbon component. I really line the way it looks, but I was worried that I might miss something by not using a manure product. I feel better now.

[@GARDENER42]

We were using composted sewage solids on our garden in Leicester, UK back in the early 1970's. Marketed under the name "Lescost". Grew some great vegetables.

[@markbaumgardner3760]

A fair analysis of composting, thanks for keeping it simple. There are a lot of people that want to go off the deep end about micro-nutrients, trace minerals, with not a lot of testing to back them up. I am a market-gardener and by buy local Dairy Compost and I started making my own compost, from spent vegetables and rejected vegetables from a local food bank and wood shread. My bins are 6' x 5' x 5' high. I am able to get a good bit of heat (160 degrees). I am looking to kill any weed seed and pathogens. We grow a lot of greens and that is one of the reasons I stopped using fresh manure.

[@Lochness19]

Getting your home compost hot isn't that out of range, although it does require a bit of work and a few basic techniques. I live in the same general area as you (I'm in suburban Toronto) and have been able to get my compost hot even in winter. My current 2023 winter setup is: -2 square yard pile; more bulk = more insulation from winter cold and more heat generated -chicken wire corral; to get the sides of the compost vertical, since a heap will see the margins where the vertical height is lower freeze more easily -cardboard covering; only on the top of the pile, since this is the main pathway for heat to escape, and a few layers of cardboard can insulate very well, no cardboard on the sides though, so that air can go in through there -flipping every 7-10 days; flipping more often exposes the pile to cold winter air too frequently without giving the pile time to recover, flipping less frequently allows the pile to go anaerobic (and I suspect also causes the aerobic bacterial population to decline) -good mix of browns and greens; the main brown at my disposal is mulched leaves, and during winter, the greens are mostly coffee grounds from local coffee shops -good moisture levels; during winter if you cover your pile, you won't lose too much moisture, especially if your materials are mulched up with relatively few air gaps, but it's still good to give your pile a good soaking to start. In my case, I haven't had to water for almost two month though. -mulched up; although it's not bad to have some coarser materials in your pile, you do want it to be more like a mulch pile than a brush pile, too much air and you're not going to be able to maintain enough moisture and retain enough heat With this approach, I have been able to get my compost to temperatures of 130-140F for several consecutive days, even in January. During warmer parts of the year, you can skip some of these - you don't need to get your compost sides vertical, you don't need it to be as large (0.5-1 square yard is enough), and you don't need to cover with cardboard or any other form of insulation. On the flipside, if it does get hot, you do still want to flip it regularly, possibly even more often than in winter (ie every 2-5 days). However, your compost will be ready about 2-3x faster in warm weather so you're flipping more frequently, but not more times total. After 1-6 months (depending on materials and weather) the pile should be mostly broken down, except for the woodier stuff, which are best composted at cool temperatures anyways (by fungi, worms, earwigs, rolly pollies, etc), so you can just let it sit undisturbed for a few months, or sift out the coarse stuff if you're looking to sow seeds into it (for larger plants they don't seem to mind having some chunky woody stuff mixed in).

[@denyshadials5702]

I always learn so much fundamentally on your channel. People talk about what decisions they make for their gardens, but you’ve been the best at explaining the ‘why’ without going over people’s heads or leaving out pertinent considerations. So thank you for that. It’s hard in our small space with full time jobs for us to make a good home compost at the appropriate speed. Especially at the rate we eat-we’re vegetarian. Our bin is full and unfinished. I’m going to reach out to see what are local municipal has to offer-it’s not free, but the bags are roughly the same price of manure sold at big box stores. I was disappointed with the bags we got a couple years ago. It had so much hard clay, which was the reason we turned half our raised bed into a large compost bin. We were hoping to soften it that way after all we’d spent. I’m learning to recycle our potting soil and I’d really like to add a heap a compost to our grow bags every year to help improve the soil over time. And maybe (hopefully lol) they take all our eggshells too. Those take a really long time to break down smh.

[@mericaphi9088]

Thank you so much! I’m trying my hand at raised gardening and am in the beginning stages. Have watched hundreds of videos, and it wasn’t until I watched your videos on dirt and compost that I finally feel confident in how I am going to fill these beds. Love and Light to you!!

[@alenajoseph6182]

Can I heat treat my compost if I can't get it hot enough on the pile

[@samjones3546]

This was such an important and useful gardening video; I wish I’d watched this years ago. Thanks so much: the simplicity of your research cuts through all the over-analysing by garden gurus that’s so prevalent today.

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

Thanks.

[@donniecarter4981]

I'm using sheep and goat manure clean out from my cousin and deep mulching it with leaves, straw,and wood shavings. It should work out good. I also will be scattering chicken litter on top of all the mulch to over winter.

[@tbluemel]

Love your videos and I am learning soooo much from your "Soil Science" book!

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

I'm so glad!

[@bethharper3900]

I love listening to your videos very informative!

[@koerttijdens1234]

Gardeners nowadays spend more money on their garden than they harvest on vegetabels.

[@leeannmoore3158]

Yes! But the joy it gives me is priceless. Plus I feel better after a day in the garden and the food is much tastier.

[@koerttijdens1234]

@@leeannmoore3158 Yes it is, best carrots, tomatoes, potatos, evrything. I try do the old fashioned way, manure, spading, raking and things. I think that tastes better than the compost and raised beds methods which costs a lot of money. I remember grandpa spading, good memories.

[@kirkshar]

Thanks for all the great information! I'm in northern Florida and have 11 1/2 acres of woods and lawn. Trying to add an orchard and garden to the property. I have huge piles of leaves and am composting some into a large compost bin. I'm overwhelmed with what to do to process them all. They have been shredded but it's almost impossible to keep them wet. I will keep watching your videos ... they are inspiring.

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

If you have mostly leaves - they need nitrogen to decompose.

[@bluegrassdiggers9030]

Tell your husband to piss on those leaves it speeds up the process 😆

[@skinnyWHITEgoyim]

Add chicken manure or basically any herbivore manure to the leaves and watch em break down.... keep it somewhat moist and it'll compost quickly

[@gnarmarmilla]

That sounds awesome! Keep Florida beautiful for us, ma’am, please plant endemic trees and plants on your property so that the state can be glorious as long as possible. May God bless you and yours in your endeavors.

[@kirkshar]

@@gnarmarmilla I'm trying...but my neighbor just massacred 160 acres of forest. I'm heartsick. First time I've seen a large rattlesnake in my yard and I've seen Armadillos running in the buffer between our properties. I've cried over it.

[@marianwhit]

Nice to see you in gardening clothes! Your vids are wonderful.

[@parmrandhawa1797]

Wonderful analysis of various composts. Enjoyed the presentation

[@bobbysmac1009]

Thank you for this video. I have always wondered what is the best compost option. I also want to thank you for your most recent book. soil science for gardeners is such a great read. you make it so that I can understand what's going on in the soil without talking down to the reader.

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Peace2all4vr]

Excellent info!! Thank you!

[@sahmadi1000]

It was so informative. Thank you

[@nigl2807]

Cheers for another informative video. Quite enlightening. Might get your books as well :D. Looking at getting mushroom compost i think...

[@joeysoprano8405]

Great format and layout to learn.

[@ThePoorStudent]

Chicken poop seems to be known for “magical properties” too and it’s expensive!

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

It is just poop.

[@ValleyProud916]

Good stuff, thanks🍅

[@amazingdany]

Now I know which commercial compost to buy, thx!

[@brianshaw373]

The real magic in vermicompost is operating your own worm farm. Fun and educational… with the excrement as a useful byproduct!

[@sether2774]

donkey manure, by experience, is very good for composting and growing plants. We had a wild gourd plant grow in our donkey manure pile and it turned out 70 large/jumbo gourds. We then started using the composted manure in our potting mix and strawberry field. the plants grew extremely well.

[@oby-1607]

Municipal compost can be loaded with pesticides and herbicides because of people wanting the perfect garden or lawn.

[@tastyfishsauce4410]

Good to know. Thanks.

[@elainemunro4621]

Very helpful, thanks! I live in east Hawaii island and recently covered one of my two driveways with 6” black cinder and am planting various landscape plants. Will now add more compost around the plants and top with wood chips. You have really helped my plan. Btw, we use michorhizie rooting mix here and it really helps the soil biology, per Dr Elaine Ingham.

[@Peoplespilates]

I grow everything in compost directly, all my plants grow beautifully. I grow all my plants in no soil, only leaves and kitchen waste compost. Really works well.

[@angusmacduff3471]

I use my own Vermi-compost - I feed my worms wood pellets, soy pellets, coffee grounds, egg shells, chick starter and all of our veggie scraps. they really produce on that. Today's show was great.

[@lorrainedurgee1761]

I subscribed cause your telling us what to buy for any type I’d dirt - & telling us about what to use ..

[@williamwaters4506]

Great video.

[@youcandoitgardening]

Fantastic video as always. Are there any invasive plants you would be concerned about surviving in municipal compost piles, like Japanese knotweed? We used to use local compost from our town transfer station but now I’m concerned about knotweed and haven’t wanted to risk it.

[@loki-ly9xb]

I live in Central Florida nothing but sand. I live alone and the only thing I throw away is once in a while banana peels and egg shells. I really have nothing else to add so it would take me forever to make my own compost

[@marksbiz33]

From what I understand, depending on where the coco coir used in the substrate is from, it could contain higher salt levels because some may use sea water for irrigation. Myth?

[@kce1008]

WARNING!!!! ⚠️ 👎🏿😬😡They’re (the GOVERNMENT) are closing many farms down in Oregon and other places because of dangerous chemicals, antibiotics , prescription drugs, other medical contaminants, and heavy metals present in their soil! It not considered to be ORGANIC!! THIS IS AFTER THE GOVERNMENT STATED IT WAS GOOD FOR THEIR SOIL !!!! WHEN EVER A GOVERNMENT AGENT, LOBBYIST, OR A CORPORATE REPRESENTATIVE SAYS: “ WE’VE COME HERE TO HELP YOU “ - RUN THE OTHER WAY FAST!! A lot of what he’s saying on KZbin about composting is not 100% true or correct!! BEWARE OF PARTIAL “TRUTHS “ that he is spewing out! Your garden, yard, or farm will not be considered truly organic and will become contaminated with toxic pollutants for hundreds of years. Don’t believe the Government agents and/or everything you read and see on the internet! Don’t trust or believe in “professionals” on any subject such as: politics, education, religion, diet, agriculture, medicine, health, etc. Do your own research, due diligence and use your brains!! Don’t be a naive fool! Don’t be gullible! Ask yourself these questions (and many others) before making decisions or taking any advice: 1- Do they really know what the hell they’re talking about? 2- Do they have a conflict of interest? 3- Do they love, respect, care for me, and are really looking out for me?

[@zlinky1113]

Appreciate the quick summary in the intro. So glad I stayed for the rest though!!! : )))

[@Raidparade33]

Sir, pig compost (and any carnivore compost) is certainly different from herbivore compost! Pigs host among the greatest amount of harmful bacteria and pathogens in their stool. Carnivore compost should be sterilized before use, or given a year or two to decompose. Herbivore compost is much more clean and can be used, in some cases, immediately.

[@donnastormer9652]

Big big difference in animal feces, and human feces! compost it or not you cannot compost chemicals out or at least a lot of chemicals out. I would rather be dealing with occasional antibiotics residue in manure rather than anti-depressants and psychotropic drugs, but I do appreciate your video.

[@kce1008]

They’re closing many farms down in Oregon and other places because of chemicals, antibiotics , prescription drugs, and heavy metals presenting their soil! THIS IS AFTER THE GOVERNMENT STATED IT WAS GOOD FOR THEIR SOIL !!!! Don’t believe the Government agents and/or everything you read and see on the internet!

[@dollyperry3020]

Great video

[@pearlruth]

I appreciate the in-depth discussion. We have a large Amish community, so I hope my bags of dehydrated manure are local. In terms of human sewage, I would be concerned about pathogens. Romain lettuce has been removed from the market several times. Usually, pathogens of other animals are harmless for humans.

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

But all soil contains these pathogens, even if you don't add human sewage.

[@bethsands7665]

I would be worried about human manure being used as compost because of drugs and pharmaceuticals . We certainly don't want herbicides and antibiotics in animal manure either . Thanks for your garden-knowledge.

[@vazvid]

04:18 Home Compost 14:40 Vermicompost 16:54 Bokashi Compost

[@Change-Maker]

Missing some key considerations: 1) compost vs fertiliser: microbes quantities, nutrient cycling 2) bokashi, vermicompost, hot compost, what type of microbes do they have and again how do they play a role in nutrient cycling? 3) fungal activity/quantities in the different type of composts... 4) hot composting has highly oxidised composts vs facultative/anerobic methods like bokashi 5) municipal compost is one of the worse that I and many have experienced, it is usually not completely composted and in my personal experience needs a lot of time to break down to usable/reasonable levels.

[@robertreznik9330]

Manure that I use is from dry lot beef finishing on the western high plains. When I get lab results it will have 2.5-3.0-2.8 and water content of 20 to 30%. Dairy manure will be more like the 1-1-1 I know manure is a good source of nutrients for crops...I have used 100's of thousands of tons in my life time. There are some negatives but in the long run many positives.

[@jimbaggett133]

I live in central Texas and manage a community garden and 2 food bank plots. I had a soil test done by the Texas Agrilife Extension. Where I garden we have a heavy clay soil. I noticed that I was good on all elements except I was high in P., 224 ppm. to be exact. They basically said back away from the Phosphorus. In fact like the next 5 years. Also, they said to stay away from manure-based composts. I have been using a mushroom compost with poultry poop for about 5 years.. Does that sound correct? You mentioned that manure-based compost NPK is 1-1-1. Does this sound correct, as 1-1-1 sounds pretty low? BTW I love your videos and just purchased your soil since videos.

[@Crazyman1212]

I use vermicompost as a top layer monthly to increase the microbial activity, nutrients and apparently it's a pH buffer in my indoor cannabis grow but your video has me second guessing. I use a dry organic amendment "gaia green". Do you recommend any other type of compost for indoor.

[@peternyc]

Would tilling into the soil homemade leaf mulch (not leaf mold) be a good way to raise the organic levels in the soil? How about combining this with municipal compost? Or would the leaf mulch serve better as a top dressing substitute for wood chip mulch? I'm going to plant about 30 Nellie Stevens hollies and 20 Skip laurels on 2,000 sq. ft. in the Fall. I'm trying to figure out what is the best way to prep and maintain the soil.

[@08qbert]

I love your no nonsense gardening knowledge. I am a new subscriber and am trying to watch all of your videos. Can you do a video explaining the difference between buried kitchen scraps vs chop and drop. I understand the uncomposted veggies can be detrimental to plants (robbing them of nitrogen). What about chop and drop. Wouldn’t that rob nitrogen as well?

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

" uncomposted veggies can be detrimental to plants (robbing them of nitrogen)" - that is unlikely to be a problem since veggies are high in nitrogen. Only things very high in carbon can be a problem - wood chips, dry leaves.

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

chop and drop needs nitrogen if the material does not have enough, but it takes it from the top 2 mm of soil - not were the roots are.

[@08qbert]

Thank you for your prompt reply. Whew, I feel much better now. I pick up throw away veggies from a small grocery store so I have boxes of veggies every week. Majority of the time, during winter and falls, I buried the veggies. Sometimes I laid them on top of plants/trees then cover with wood chips and/or cardboards. I find my veggies decomposed within 5 weeks.

[@sbffsbrarbrr]

@@08qbert Well that's a great source to have for "kitchen scraps"!

[@philandhannahslittlefarm1464]

If you put the timestamps starting with 00:00 in your description it creates "chapters". People can click on the timestamp and skip right to that part of the video.

[@lilycardoso4679]

I just bought your soil science book. But I think I learn more from your videos. But maybe I should read the whole book. 😬

[@mikek5631]

Excellent video. What's your opinion on Shrimp Compost? About the same as the rest? I have read that Shrimp Compost has pretty good amounts minerals that others may not but not sure how much of that is reality or not. Saw some at a local retailer recently and was tempted to give it a try but haven't ever used it so I was a bit cautious about it. Cheers.

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

Ask for a chemical analysis to see what it contains. I doubt it is anything special.

[@Opa773]

What about medications taken by human ? Does it show in the bio?

[@bigal7713]

@2:20 synthetic fertilizer does harm the soil by: 1) accelerating decomposition of existing organic matter in it (think adding lots of greens to "slow" compost pile) 2) eliminating the need for plant roots to emit exudates to feed microorganisms in the soil in exchange for nutrients - all nutrients are suddenly available in excess. Lots of OM in the soil is in a form of live microorganisms, and not dead pieced of carbon. All that is *opposite* to adding new organic matter to the soil. Add tilling to that and you get purely mineral soil dependent on 24/7 fertilizing to grow anything. Also my gut feeling is that compost made solely from high C / low N material (such as fall leaves or wood chips) would result in lower N compost than the compost made from manures where there was no deficiency in N - at least at the stage when most gardeners would choose to apply it. I understand that given enough time all composts may become the same N-wise, but I believe there is a danger of accumulating to much P in the soil from manure source composts.

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

What you actually find in soil that has been fertilized with synthetic fertilizer is an increase in microbe population. They now have a food source and rely less on the OM in soil. When the food runs out, they die adding even more OM to the soil.

[@bluejay3945]

@@Gardenfundamentals1 when you say an increase in microbes are you referring to bacteria or fungi? My understanding is that synthetic fertilizers increase bacteria at the expense of fungi. And, my understanding is that the goal is to have a soil biome with a 1:1 bacteria/fungi ratio Your thoughts?

[@austinmesta9862]

I never ever use municipal compost. Here, they add literally tons of biosolids to it. Eastern Washington state, USA

[@TheFixIsIn-fe1jy]

I'm the leaf person, I don't have a lot of money to buy soil, I let nature make it for me, I've been to a compost company and seen how they male it, big trucks who have cut and wood chip the tree's take it to the compost company that takes all this matter that's been dumped and add in the chicken poop and they grind it up together, that's what you are buying.

[@johnliberty3647]

I use humanure, I would prefer livestock manure but I am not set up for it yet.

[@stephenshanebeaty]

Does adding compost to the top of container plants do any good does it work its way down into the pot

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

Yes it slowly incorporates and continues to decompose

[@XCrystalXMoonX]

I thought another advantage of vermi compost is that you don't need to use as much of it compared to other compost, so it's good if you don't have a lot of space, or just want to put a bit of top soil on indoor plants. Is that not true? Edit: also it's not acidic, so you can use it even with seedlings. Right? Edit: also more microbial content that makes nutrients more easily available. Right?

[@GeezerTuber]

Municipal compost in San Diego is incompletely composted and absolutely full of weed seeds.

[@skinnyWHITEgoyim]

Mushrooms grow in my garden every spring. I would have at least 100 new mushrooms every morning and they'd die during the day.

[@manjushreetsl2531]

I would like to know the add of mushroom farmer that you mentioned. I would like to have those soil for free. I live in Toronto by the way. Thank you for all the info. Your contents always interesting.

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

Don't know the name - they are near Milton.

[@manjushreetsl2531]

@@Gardenfundamentals1 thank you.

[@jonathanrobinson1768]

Do you think the risk of aminopyralid herbicide in manure is rare? In Florida I believe most cattle is dairy related and fed grain rather than hay and I have not encountered it yet. I have switched Miraclegro as the stories have made md gun shy.

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

The risk is rare. You can easily test for it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bIuvmnRtpdtqfbM

[@alexandrevaliquette3883]

First time I've heard about shrimp compost, I was confuse... How small should be the shovel to pick up the tiny poo? Ok, I was quite young.. You know, when you just learned to read and you get curious!

[@synchronicity67]

I like experimenting with home compost- in some I make from vegetable skin n brown leaves. In another I use only light things like those petals n mint leaves. A question : can I add d skin of raw mushrooms (soaked in water for a day) in any old compost?

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

You can add anything that is plant or animal.

[@kenashton32]

I use municipal compost every year. It’s all from the city yard wast recicle center. My organic matter is off the charts. Can organic matter be too high?

[@Aswaguespack]

Physiologically there are major differences in the digestive tracts of various animal species which can impact the characteristics of the manure that is produced. Poultry and swine (as well as humans) have simple or monogastric stomachs. Monogastric stomachs do not have the enzymes to break down cellulose which is very important. Cattle, sheep, goats, deer and antelope have ruminate stomachs which are “multi-chambered” (not the simple pouch of monogastric stomachs) and they contain rumen microbes which break down cellulose. Because of the digestive tract of ruminates the process of converting food into nutrients is slower, taking more time to process than in a monogastric digestive tract. Because of this extended time in the digestive tract fermentation occurs and high temperatures can kill some pathogens in the digesta. This may be why seeds digested by ruminates will pass through the digestive tract and upon passing will become inert in the manure. However, Horses (and rabbits for that matter) are not ruminate animals. They do not have the multi-chambered stomach like cows. Hence, they process food differently from ruminates. As a result seeds ingested by horses upon passing may be viable and can be invasive when horse manure not properly composted to high temperatures does not kill the seed. While all manures can be composted not all manures are equal. Llamas, alpaca and camels are pseudo-ruminates as they have a three chambered stomach. Guano or the manure from flying animals including bats and birds is a topic for another time. I make use of rabbit manure because it’s free and I have access to an almost unlimited supply that I can collect from the source then compost it in a pile in the back corner of my yard to use when needed.

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

Agreed, but once this manure is composted the differences quickly disappear. They are almost zero by the time it fully decomposes in soil. The other issue is that the differences in manure also depend very much on the feed given to the animals. As gardeners we just don't have any of these details to intelligently use the information. In the end, our gardens get nutrients and organic matter.

[@Aswaguespack]

@@Gardenfundamentals1 Yes if the Compost piles are heated long enough to render any seeds or pathogens inert. Not all the compost purchased might have been processed properly although many of the most recognizable brands are. Some users of horse manure have complained of seeds that introduced weeds into their gardens because their sources of the “composted” manure didn’t develop the heat for the necessary length of time to render the manure “safe”. Buyer Beware of what you are purchasing because sometimes the great price comes with a unexpected result. Herbicides and herbicide residue are a different issue. Some gardeners here in Louisiana are discovering that some commercial bags of compost and mulch products appear to have been damaging to their gardens. Even properly composted the herbicide residue remained and these gardeners reported the death of their plants. A new menace to be wary of. Thanks for the great and very accurate information you provide the Gardening Community.

[@chairmanmeow3693]

I've also seen chicken manure. Would that be comparable to the others you mentioned?

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

Probably.

[@margaretanderson2547]

I’m extremely leery about biosolids. Heavy metals, undissolved chemicals and ground up plastic etc, are never a good thing. Most sewage centers only treatment consists just drying out the sludge, nothing else. Not for me.

[@Aswaguespack]

Robert do you have any information on the herbicide Aminopyralid by Dow sold under the brand name “Grazon”? It has been reported to have been sprayed in pastures and the residue has found its way into the market in mulches, hay, and horse manure and where it has been used it has been reported to cause damage to crops. Is this real or just another social media myth feeding the rumor mill.

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

no.

[@patkonelectric]

Surprised my favorite rabbit manure wasn't mentioned. 🐇 Rabbits eat your food scapes, weeds, garden waste, ect. Then in short time you have 💩 ready to go.

[@kapler79]

Mushroom compost can be very hard on seedlings and is not suitable for starting seeds in. Please be careful before a wide application.

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

Correct - mushroom compost is higher in nutrients. But then I would not use any compost for starting seeds - use a soilless mix.

[@45salf]

Are deworming meds a concern in composted horse manure?

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

Not really - they decompose over time.

[@amyk6028]

You said you were putting time stamps in the description but I couldn't find that 🤔

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

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