Why is it that some people seem to have a green thumb, while others’ gardens seem more like a plant graveyard? True, some do just have a knack for gardening. But most amazing gardeners know that compost is the key to making a good garden great.

What is Compost?

Compost is organic material that as been decomposed. This can be grass clippings, dead plants, leaves, coffee grounds, and even the scraps from cutting and preparing vegetables and fruit. Compost is used in gardening to enrich the soil and provide much needed nutrients to plants. In fact, compost is so important in vegetable gardening that farmers often refer to it as “black gold.”

Compost is needed for vegetable gardening in many areas because of the composition of the soil; adding compost to clay or sandy soils can make them much easier to plant and better allow plants to grow. Adding compost to your garden can increase the growth and production of your vegetable plants, and improve their health as well. And, quite simply, if you ask most avid gardeners why compost is needed for vegetable gardening, they will simply tell you that it makes the vegetables taste better!

How Do I Get Compost into my Garden?

Composting can take several forms. An easy way to add the much needed compost to your vegetable garden is to compost leaves and grass clippings as you complete yard work. Organic items like these that are already in small pieces will easily decompose, and can generally be added directly to your garden. If you want to really improve your garden, however, a compost bin is the way to go.

You can build a compost bin yourself, or buy one of the commercially made models readily available on the market. These generally work by adding organic material to the top (what you want to compost), and as the material decomposes, it works its way down the bin to the bottom, where it is ready for your garden. The compost provides much needed nutrients for your vegetable garden.

You can even buy a compost tumbler, which speeds up the process. An added bonus to making your own compost is that you are also helping the environment, as your grass clippings, leaves, and other materials never make it to the landfill. Composting is usually the realm of experienced gardeners who realize its importance. But now that you know why compost is needed for vegetable gardening, you, too, can grow prize winning veggies.