September 2024 | Native Edge Landscapes
If not already scheduled, Fall, Spring and Summer are all excellent times to give your landscape a healthy boost with our liquid compost soil drench or foliar application.
- Improve soil structure and nutrient availability.
- Strengthen plant resilience against winter stresses.
- Foster a thriving, beneficial ecosystem below the surface.
- Promote deep root growth, plant health, and landscape sustainability.
What is Liquid Compost?
Liquid compost, also commonly referred to as “compost tea”, is a liquid organic fertilizer and soil amendment made from steeping compost in water. It involves the extraction of beneficial microorganisms, nutrients, and other soluble components from compost, creating a nutrient-rich liquid that can be applied to plants and soil to promote their growth and health.
Liquid Compost Verses Compost Topdressing? What’s’ the Difference?
Liquid compost is ideal for quick nutrient uptake, boosting microbial activity, and precise application whereas topdressing with compost offers long-term soil improvement, moisture retention, and erosion control, making it a slow-release method for sustained soil health.
How is it made?
Our liquid compost is made by using biologically active compost that comes from a well-managed composting system with a balanced mix of green and brown organic materials. This compost is placed in a container like a bucket or a specialized compost tea brewer filled with water. Additional ingredients like microbial food or rock dust (for mineral content) is added to enhance the nutrient profile. A continuous supply of oxygen is provided to the mixture during the brewing process, as adequate aeration for 24 hours is essential for the growth and proliferation of beneficial aerobic microorganisms. After brewing, the liquid is strained to remove solid particles and any potential pathogens, and the resulting liquid can then be sprayed on plant leaves or applied as a drench in the soil.
What are the benefits of liquid compost?
- Nutrient Supply: Compost tea provides a wide range of essential nutrients and minerals that are essential for plant growth. These nutrients are in a readily available form, making it easier for plants to absorb them.
- Beneficial Microorganisms: Compost tea is rich in beneficial microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. These microbes enhance soil health and contribute to a balanced soil ecosystem. They can help break down organic matter, improve nutrient cycling, and suppress harmful pathogens.
- Improved Plant Health: The presence of beneficial microorganisms in compost tea can help protect plants from diseases by competing with harmful pathogens or by inducing plant defense mechanisms.
- Enhanced Soil Structure: Regular application of compost tea can improve soil structure, water retention, and aeration, creating a more conducive environment for root growth.
- Reduced Environmental Impact: Compost tea is an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic fertilizers, reducing the risk of chemical runoff and pollution.
- Encourages Beneficial Soil Organisms: By introducing beneficial microorganisms to the soil, compost tea encourages the growth and activity of beneficial soil-dwelling organisms, which contributes to a healthier and more diverse soil ecosystem.
- Enhanced Seed Germination and Root Development: The beneficial microorganisms and nutrients in compost tea can aid in seed germination and support root development, leading to stronger and more resilient plants.
Liquid compost is beneficial for all plants, and especially to plants that are showing signs of stress. Spring, Summer and Fall are all great times to apply it. Best results occur when combined with proper gardening practices and other soil management techniques such as aerating.
Get In Touch
To schedule a consultation or request services with our Organic Lawn Care experts please call 303-245-9166, send an email to information@nativeedgelandscapes.com or Get In Touch through our website. One of our Customer Care Representatives will be happy to help.
