Frequently Asked Questions
Gardening & Soil Questions
How do I improve clay soil in my yard?
Clay soil is common in Middle Tennessee. The best way to improve it is by mixing in compost, which loosens the soil, improves drainage, and adds nutrients. We recommend our Garden Blend for in-ground beds or Premium Screened Compost as a soil amendment.
What's the best soil for a vegetable garden?
Vegetables thrive in loose, nutrient-rich soil with good drainage. For raised beds, we recommend SuperSoil Raised Bed Blend. For in-ground gardens, Garden Blend works best when mixed into your existing soil.
What's the difference between compost and topsoil?
Topsoil is the top layer of earth—it provides structure but limited nutrients. Compost is decomposed organic matter that feeds your soil, improves water retention, and supports healthy plant growth. Our Garden Blend combines both for the best results.
When should I add compost to my garden?
You can add compost year-round, but the best times are early spring (before planting) and fall (to prep for next season). Compost breaks down slowly, so applying it in fall gives it time to enrich your soil over winter.
Why aren't my plants growing well?
Poor plant growth usually comes down to soil quality. Compacted, nutrient-depleted, or clay-heavy soil limits root growth and water absorption. Adding compost improves soil structure and gives plants the nutrients they need.
Can I use compost for my lawn?
Yes! Topdressing your lawn with a thin layer (¼ to ½ inch) of Premium Screened Compost improves soil health, encourages deeper root growth, and helps your grass retain moisture. Best applied in spring or fall.
Is compost safe for edible gardens?
Absolutely. All of our compost is made from organic inputs with no synthetic chemicals or additives. It's safe for vegetables, herbs, fruit trees, and anything else you plan to eat.
Product Questions
Which product is best for a vegetable garden?
For in-ground vegetable gardens, we recommend Garden Blend—it improves soil structure and adds nutrients when mixed into your existing soil. For raised bed vegetable gardens, use SuperSoil Raised Bed Blend, which is ready to use without mixing.
Which product is best for raised beds?
SuperSoil Raised Bed Blend is designed specifically for raised beds. It's a lightweight mix of compost, peat moss, and perlite that supports strong root growth, drainage, and moisture retention—no mixing required.
Which product is best for lawn topdressing?
Premium Screened Compost is ideal for lawns. Apply a thin layer (¼ to ½ inch), rake it in, and water. It improves soil health, encourages deeper roots, and helps your grass retain moisture.
Which product is best for flower beds?
We recommend Garden Blend for flower beds—it enriches your soil with nutrients and improves structure. Pair it with Compost Mulch on top to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Which product is best for containers and potted plants?
Pot Luck Potting Soil is our go-to for containers, pots, and houseplants. It's a lightweight blend of compost, peat moss, and perlite—perfect for indoor and outdoor container gardening.
Which product is best for trees and shrubs?
Compost Mulch works great around trees and shrubs. It protects roots, retains moisture, and slowly releases nutrients into the soil as it breaks down.
Which product is best for large or commercial projects?
For large-scale work, we offer Custom Soil Blends engineered to your project specifications, as well as bulk compost options like BlackJack and Unscreened Compost for budget-conscious applications.
What's the difference between Garden Blend and SuperSoil?
Garden Blend is meant to be mixed into existing ground-level soil—ideal for improving clay or compacted dirt. SuperSoil Raised Bed Blend is a standalone mix for filling raised beds from scratch, with no mixing needed.
What's the difference between your compost products?
Premium Screened Compost is finely screened with a smooth texture—great for gardens, lawns, and landscaping. BlackJack Compost is single-screened and more affordable, best for large projects. Unscreened Compost has a rougher texture and is ideal for farms, erosion control, and high-volume applications.
What's in Pot Luck Potting Soil?
Pot Luck combines Premium Screened Compost, sphagnum peat moss, and perlite. It contains no synthetic fertilizers or fillers—just clean, organic ingredients designed for healthy container plants.
Do you sell bagged products?
Yes! We offer bagged versions of Premium Screened Compost and Pot Luck Potting Soil in 1-cubic-foot bags. Available at select Middle Tennessee retailers or for pickup at our facility.
What is STA-Certified compost?
STA (Seal of Testing Assurance) is a certification from the US Composting Council that ensures compost meets strict quality and consistency standards. Our Premium Screened Compost and BlackJack Compost are both STA-Certified.
Ordering & Delivery Questions
What are your hours of operation?
Monday - Friday: 7:30am - 3:30pm
Saturday: 9:00am - 3:30pm, seasonally (March 1st - October 1st)
Sunday: Closed
Why Compost Company compost?
We don’t want to brag, but we think it’s the best stuff around. Many “compost” products don’t bring a whole lot to the table. Our compost is made with locally sourced all-natural feedstocks including food scraps, leaf and wood waste, and agricultural residuals that we blend and age carefully – and fully – so that you only get mature, weed and pesticide-free compost for your planting project. We pay extra time and attention to all of our products to create the best in all-natural growing media.
Do you deliver?
We do!
Delivery rates vary depending on the amount of product required. Our team will be happy to assess your needs and recommend the perfect solution at the best price.
Do you have a minimum purchase amount?
We have no minimum for onsite purchase and pickup.
For delivery within 30 miles, a $200 minimum order applies. For orders traveling 75 miles or more, minimum order of $400 or more.
Do you offer bulk discounts?
Yes. For orders of 20 cubic yards and, we can offer bulk discounts. Please contact us so we can learn more about your needs and provide you with a quote.
What time of year should I apply compost?
There’s never a bad time to condition your soil with compost, but we recommend doing so before the planting season has begun if you plan to till or heavily mix into your garden. Top-dressing around plants is a good idea year-round. Our favorite time to add compost is after the planting season is over in late Fall or early Winter. This allows the microbial life in our products to benefit your soil through the off-season so you’ll be ready for Spring, Summer, or Fall planting.
How much compost do I need?
Each cubic yard of mulch will cover approximately 100 square feet to a depth of 3 inches. Please see our Calculator Tool for more specific answers, but here’s a pretty good primer for each cubic yard of Compost application:
| SQUARE FEET | AT | DEPTH |
|---|---|---|
| 324 sq. ft. | at | 1″ depth |
| 162 sq. ft. | at | 2″ depth |
| 108 sq. ft. | at | 3″ depth |
| 81 sq. ft. | at | 4″ depth |
How much material can I pick up myself?
Most full size pickups can handle up to 2 yards of compost or 1-1.5 yards of soil product depending on the size of the pickup truck bed. Never load more than what is reasonable or what your vehicle is specified to carry. It’s always a good idea to bring a tarp to cover your load.
What about mulch?
We make the finest all-natural mulch around. It is double-ground and aged to perfection, with no additives or chemical colorants. We find that this better mimics what you’d find on the forest floor. We recommend applying mulch to a depth of 3 inches or more to insulate roots, cut down on weeds, and add carbon to your soil. Mulch should be placed around and between the plants. Avoid covering your plants and keep the mulch an inch or two from the plant stems. The mulch should be raked or “fluffed” periodically. This prevents it from compacting and repelling rain. Replenish mulch periodically to maintain thickness and color.
Composting Services Questions
What can I compost?
We collect all forms of food waste including meat, dairy, bones and fish waste, as well as all plant material and paper goods. If it was once alive, we can compost it!
How much space do the bins take up?
We offer collection of bins from 64-gallon roller carts to 10 cubic yard dumpsters. There’s always room for a compost bin!
Is composting cost-effective?
As part of your total waste-disposal costs, composting is very cost-effective. We make every effort to collect your food and/or green waste at or below what it costs to have it landfilled, because we don’t want you to pay more for doing the right thing.
When the heavy stuff is diverted to composting, we often find that customers can reduce their regular trash cost by using smaller containers serviced less frequently, and therefore remain cost-neutral.
Why is composting beneficial for my business?
Sustainable business practices are proven to increase customer loyalty and retention. It’s even a great way to attract the best employees, a growing number of whom express a desire to work in offices, restaurants, schools and venues that are environmentally considerate.
Does composting smell?
We collect compostable material at least once per week to make sure that you’re not left with any unpleasant odor in your workplace. In many cases, we collect 2-3x weekly, as fits your needs and budget. All of our bins have lids and are cleaned at EVERY pickup, which is something you won’t get from your average trash hauler.
Because odors and pests are primary concerns around composting, we take extra care to avoid these issues and will work with you to make going green a clean, easy, and efficient process.