Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchThe most dependable homemade garden fertilizer is finished compost: a soil amendment made from kitchen scraps and yard waste that adds organic matter, but does not deliver a predictable dose of nutrients. To supply a specific nutrient, test your soil first and follow the test’s recommendations. Compost recipes, nutrient levels and useful application rates vary with the ingredients, plants and soil.
What homemade compost can—and cannot—do
Compost improves soil by adding organic matter and contributes some nutrients as it breaks down. But the finished mix is not a standardized, complete fertilizer. Iowa State University Extension gives homemade compost an approximate N-P-K range of 0.5-0.5-0.5 to 4-4-4, a wide span that reflects how much the ingredients can vary. Those figures are a range, not a guaranteed analysis for your batch. Iowa State’s guide to organic fertilizers explains the differences among common materials.
Use compost to build organic matter; do not assume it will correct a particular nutrient deficiency. A soil test can help identify whether a targeted amendment is needed. Applying more nutrients than plants use can allow them to leach into groundwater or run off into surface water, as Washington State University Extension’s soil and fertilizer guide explains.
How to make garden compost
A backyard compost pile needs suitable green and brown materials, moisture and air. Greens supply nitrogen-rich material, while browns supply carbon-rich material and help keep the pile from becoming too wet. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends two to three parts browns to one part greens as a measure to help prevent rodents.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →#1 Best Overall
- Safe for the Environment: Non-toxic and safe for beneficial insects, pollinators, pets, and the surrounding ecosystem, promoting a healthier garden environment.
- Versatile and Easy to Use: Suitable for a wide range of vegetables, and the 5 lb box is easy to apply directly to the soil or mix into garden beds.
- Slow-Release Formula: Delivers nutrients gradually, ensuring long-lasting support for your plants and reducing the risk of nutrient leaching.
- All-Natural Ingredients: Made from premium organic materials, providing a chemical-free, eco-friendly alternative to synthetic fertilizers.
- Perfect for Vegetables: Specifically formulated with a balanced 4-4-4 NPK ratio to support healthy, productive vegetable gardens with strong roots, foliage, and fruit development.
1. Choose what goes in
For a backyard pile, the EPA lists these compostable materials:
- Greens: fruit and vegetable scraps, grass clippings, coffee grounds and paper filters, and paper tea bags without staples.
- Browns: dry leaves, plant stalks and twigs, non-glossy shredded paper, plain cardboard, and untreated wood chips.
Keep out meat, fish, bones, dairy, fats and grease; herbicide-treated plants or grass; aggressive weeds with seeds; diseased or pest-infested plants; treated wood; pet waste and cat litter; dryer lint; glossy paper; and produce stickers. The EPA advises against these items in a home compost pile. Its home composting guide has the full list and care instructions.
Rank #2
- Burpee Organic All Purpose Granular Plant Food is formulated for long-lasting results
- The easy-to-apply granules release essential nutrients immediately and continue to provide a continuous stream of plant food for up to 3 months
- Contains nutrients, plants will produce superior results throughout the season
- Omri listed for organic use
- Since 1876: Generations of customers have trusted Burpee to deliver the highest quality products and service. Gardeners rely on Burpee for accurate plant information and how-to tips that make gardening easier and more successful. Let’s grow together!
2. Layer and balance greens and browns
Combine the materials, aiming for two to three parts browns for each part greens. Cover and bury food scraps in the pile rather than leaving them exposed. The right balance can shift with your inputs: add browns if the pile is wet or smells bad, and add greens if it is not heating.
3. Keep the pile moist and aerated
Moisture and airflow support decomposition. Turn the pile to introduce air. If it smells bad, it may be too wet or short on air; add dry browns and turn it. If it is not heating, mix in greens and turn it. A compost bin or aerator is optional—the essential job is to manage moisture and air.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #3
- FEED YOUR PLANTS: Burpee's All-Purpose Organic Plant Food is formulated to keep your plants growing and happy throughout the season. Major nutrients as well as calcium, minor nutrients, and some of the beneficial microbes that help keep the soil and plants healthy are released immediately and continue to feed your plants for up to 3 months.
- FOR VEGETABLES, FLOWERS & HERBS: Use this natural plant food for seed starting, bedding plants, vegetable gardens, trees, shrubs and flower containers. OMRI labeled organic. The custom blend promotes plant growth and more blooms! Great for indoor or outdoor plants.
- ORGANIC CERTIFIED: OMRI listed for organic gardening use, this plant food safely keeps your soil and plants as healthy as they can be. Easy to apply granules release essential nutrients and deliver fast-acting results for all types of plants in your home garden. Follow instructions on the bag for how much plant food to apply.
- GREAT FOR CONTAINERS: Use this balanced mix to promote growth of flowers, vegetable and herbs in patio pots and containers. You'll see the difference in plant health, fruit production and vibrancy of blooms. A natural fertilizer for growing your best garden.
- Since 1876: Generations of customers have trusted Burpee to deliver the highest quality products and service. Gardeners rely on Burpee for accurate plant information and how-to tips that make gardening easier and more successful. Let’s grow together!
4. Let it finish and cure
The EPA says a well-maintained pile may be ready in about three to five months; an untended pile can take a year. After the pile stops heating following mixing and visible food scraps are gone, cure it for at least four weeks. Finished compost should be dark, loose, crumbly and smell like fresh soil. If you still see persistent pieces, screen them out; the EPA suggests a homemade screener made from 1/4-inch hardware cloth.
Do coffee grounds and eggshells fertilize plants?
Coffee grounds and eggshells can go into compost, but adding them directly to plants is not a reliable way to deliver a quick, measured dose of nutrients. Their contribution depends on the material and how it breaks down; use soil-test recommendations when a crop needs a specific nutrient.
Rank #4
- HOW TO APPLY: To apply, simply shake granules evenly on the soil, mix into the top 1-3 inches of soil in gardens or throughout the soil for potted plants, and water to start feeding
- COVERAGE: Approximately 3/4 - 1 cup of this organic plant food covers 20 sq. ft. of in-ground soil area, or 1 tbsp feeds one 6-inch potted plant
- ALL PURPOSE PLANT FOOD GRANULES: Miracle-Gro Organic All Purpose Plant Food grows healthier, more resilient plants (vs unfed plants, when used as directed)
- FOR OUTDOOR PLANTS: Use these garden fertilizer granules with most outdoor plants, including vegetables, flowers, annuals, and perennials growing in-ground or in containers
- FEEDS UP TO 3 MONTHS: This granular plant food feeds plants for up to 3 months and provides vibrant results in as little as 1 week (vs unfed potted plants)
Eggshells break down slowly. Illinois Extension says they may take one to five years to decompose. Boiling shells in water is not a useful shortcut: the University of Florida IFAS Extension says eggshell water provides little benefit. Illinois Extension’s 2025 discussion of garden remedies and UF/IFAS’s guidance on home garden remedies cover these limitations.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When to use a targeted fertilizer or manure
If a soil test identifies a nutrient need, select an amendment for that need and apply it according to the test results and product or extension directions. Testing frequency and laboratory options depend on location; Washington State University Extension says testing every two to four years is often sufficient, but local conditions and recommendations should guide your schedule.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Best Value
- For more nutritious and tasty vegetables
- Optimum levels of primary plant nutrients
- Contains no GMOs, chicken manure or sewage sludge
- Feeds for several months
- Made with 100% organic and natural ingredients
Use extra care with manure in a vegetable garden. Fresh or inadequately composted manure can carry human pathogens. University of New Hampshire Extension advises composting and aging manure for at least six months before incorporating it into soil. That advice is not a guarantee that a casual backyard pile reaches a validated pathogen-kill process. Follow UNH Extension’s organic fertilizer guidance and its guidelines for manure and manure-based composts.
Why Epsom salt is not a general-purpose fertilizer
Epsom salt supplies magnesium and sulfur, but that does not make it a universal plant tonic. The University of Florida IFAS Extension cautions that it is not useful when magnesium is not deficient. Use a soil test to determine whether a nutrient amendment is appropriate instead of applying Epsom salt routinely.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
