City of Jackson

Compost Program

Download the Approved Compost Policy (PDF)

Started a few years ago by the Forestry Division of the Parks, Recreation and Grounds Department as part of the fall clean-up program, the City of Jackson now offers beneficial compost to our citizens. Made of 90% fallen leaves and 10% wood chips, laboratory analysis of the compost has shown that it consists of the following:

• .54% nitrogen, .23% phosphorous, 0.53% potassium, + trace amounts of essential micronutrients
• pH level of 8.3
• Moisture content of 36%
• Organic matter content is 40.21%
• Carbon-to-nitrogen ratio is 27.1:1

Benefits of Compost

The combination of these minerals and nutrients act as a great booster shot to your plants and soil, providing the following benefits:

• Adds organic matter to soil
• Increases plant vigor
• Improves soil structure, increasing the soil’s ability to hold water and nutrients
• Lessens the need for chemical fertilizers
• Helps reduce erosion

Applications

There are a wide number of applications in which this compost can be used, some of which include:

• New lawns
  • Add two inches of compost to existing soil and till to a depth of 6 inches (30% mixture). Studies have shown that seedlings germinate quicker when grown in a compost soil.
• Existing lawns
  • Top-dress 1/8” to 1/2” layer to add essential organic matter and micronutrients to help reduce thatch and improve overall health of turf.
• New landscape plantings, trees and shrubs
  • Use a 50/50 ratio of existing soil and compost as backfill. This mixture will encourage new root development and quicker establishment of new plantings.
• Vegetable and flower gardens
  • Till 30% to 50% mixture into existing or new garden beds prior to planting to increase organic matter content and plant vigor.

For information on obtaining compost from the City of Jackson, contact the Parks and Recreation Department or Tom Steiger at 517.788.4176