According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), yard trimmings and leftover food together constitute about 26 percent of rubbish produced by American municipalities. If only all this waste is directed to compost facilities instead of the landfill, we’ll have a lot less garbage to deal with. There are plenty of reasons why we should use compost for our gardening needs. The use of organic and natural compost offers a number of physical, chemical and biological benefits for our gardening needs and for the environment.

Physical benefits

Compost helps improve the structure of soil by binding soil particles into clusters, allowing it to become more porous and have space for extra air, moisture and nutrients. Sandy soil is able to retain more nutrients and more water while tightly-packed clay or silt soil tend to loosen when mixed with compost, thereby making room for air to penetrate and for water to drain. Compost also changes the structure of soil such that it becomes less vulnerable to erosion. Moreover, it helps prevent soil from spattering on the plants and spreading diseases.

Chemical benefits

Compost also enriches the soil by providing it with a full range of nutrients that are essential for plant growth. Less refertilization is required because compost can release nutrients into soil slowly. Compost can also neutralize acidic or alkaline soil and can bring its pH levels back to a healthy level. In addition, studies have shown that compost has the ability to degrade chemicals present in soil, including wood preservatives, pesticides and other contaminants like chlorinated and non-chlorinated hydrocarbons. Think of it as a natural cleaning and organic cleaning component that helps to keep your garden soil healthy.

Biological benefits

Compost encourages the growth of beneficial bacteria and fungi, which in turn decompose organic matter to create humus. Humus is a nutrient-rich material that further nourishes the soil. Furthermore, larger organisms like insects and worms, love living in soil enriched with compost, and their movement through the soil helps in keeping it loose and aerated.

Other environmental benefits

Regular soil can easily erode and runoff water can carry chemicals like fertilizers and pesticides to nearby streams and rivers. Soil enriched with compost is more resilient against erosion and thus prevents runoff water from polluting waterways. Furthermore, composting organic materials instead of bringing them to landfills helps prevent the production of methane and the formation of leachate in landfills. These environmental benefits, coupled with sales from compost as a marketable commodity translates to a huge economic benefits for any individual or community.

So the next time you do your gardening, you might just want to consider using compost to fertilize your plants. It’s a great, natural way to keep your household flora healthy and lush.

Read more about organic cleaning products, natural cleaning products and earth friendly cleaning products on BabyGanics blog and visit the BabyGanics site for information about safe, organic, and natural household solutions for your home.