Turn compost into flower power

With gardeners trying to grow greener, composting has become more popular than ever.

Of course, making compost is easy. All you need to do is mix a lot of brown plant waste (such as leaves), which is high in carbon, with a little bit of green plant materials (grass clippings and perennial trimmings) or kitchen waste, which is high in nitrogen, throw in a little garden soil, add some water and mix it up until its done. (That could take from just a few months to as long as several years.)

Using compost, however, involves a bit of work. You have to get it out of your composter and into your yard and garden, where it can do some good. Here's a primer that will help:

Using completed compost (known as green gold among gardeners) in your yard and garden enriches the soil, improves soil structure, can act as a slow-release fertilizer and creates a healthier environment for plants.

Completed compost looks a lot like soil, but it is:

• More crumbly.

• Contains small pieces of organic matter and decomposed plants.

Mid-August to mid-September is the best time to improve your lawn -- and your compost can help.

• To make your grass healthier, top-dress it with compost in fall and spring. Just sprinkle a fine layer (about 1/3 inch) of compost over your lawn and gently rake it in.

• Compost also helps repair areas where grass has died. Rake compost into the bare patches, then sprinkle grass seed and water thoroughly.

• It will also help if you're trying to establish new lawn areas. Just work 1 to 2 inches of compost into the soil, then seed.

• Every year, add a thin layer of compost around your trees and shrubs. (Be sure not to pile compost against tree trunks.)

When you divide perennials in the fall, take the opportunity to add an inch or two of compost to the soil. Compost helps sandy soils retain water and helps heavy clay soils become less compact.

Use 2 inches of compost as a mulch around annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs to help keep root zones cool, conserve moisture and prevent weeds.

(Most home compost will still contain some weed seeds, but the benefits of using compost as mulch outweigh having a few weeds.)

The areas around the foundation of homes often are backfilled with rubble and building materials that were left on the site. Amend the soil around your home -- especially if it's a new home -- with compost.

Traditionally, home compost was considered low in nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium). But because compost piles have different ingredients, they vary in nutrient level. If you plan to use your compost as a slow-release fertilizer in your yard and garden, it would be wise to have it tested.