Dig or rototill in 1-4 inches of compost when you're making new beds or planting lawns. Compost works on any soil: it helps sandy soils hold nutrients and water, and loosens clay soils. Compost feeds the beneficial soil life, so it can feed and protect your plants. Healthier soil with compost means healthier, easier to care for lawns and gardens.
Get a compost bin
If you are a resident of the City of Seattle, you can buy subsidized yard and food waste bins online or by phone from the Conservation Corps at (206) 684-0190. Call the Garden Hotline at (206) 633-0224 for more information on composting and compost bin selection.
If you are a King County resident, but not in the City of Seattle, subsidized bins are available through the King County Composting Store (Composters.com) or call 800-233-8438.
Mulch it!
"Mulch" is a layer of organic material like leaves, wood chips, compost, or grass clippings that you spread in spring or fall around your plants. Keep it about an inch away from stems. Mulch conserves water, prevents weeds, and feeds the soil for healthier plants. Use on:
Flower beds and vegetable gardens. Use 1-3 inches of leaves, compost, or grass clippings.
Trees, shrubs and woody perennials. Use 2-4 inches of woody mulches, like wood chips or bark. Fall leaves also work well.
Lawns. Mulch your lawn? Yes, you can use a mulching mower(Seattle Public Utilities) on your lawn
(leave the clippings) and spread compost.
Need fertilizer? Go organic!
Overusing chemical pesticides and fertilizers can damage beneficial soil life, leading to soil compaction and unhealthy plants. Chemicals can also wash off through sewers into streams and lakes, and harm salmon and other wildlife. Most trees and shrubs get all the nutrients they need from the soil and annual mulching. But annual plants, vegetable gardens and lawns sometimes need extra nutrients. If you're going to fertilize, look for the words "natural organic" or "slow release" on the bag. Unlike "quick release" chemicals, they won't wash off into streams so easily, and they'll feed your plants a "square meal" that will keep them looking good longer.
