I have been asked by many. There is only one place I know about in Las Vegas that has nutrient “rich” compost; Viragrow. What I mean by “rich” compost is that it will fertilize your fruit trees and landscape plants for at least two years. By my calculations, one cubic yard of Viragrow Compost has about $150 worth of fertilizer. That’s alot! You cont want to plant directly into it or apply it a few inches from your plants or it can damage them….it is that rich! Thats where the soil mixes come in.
Viragrow’s “Organic” compost. Previously called Viragrow’s “Vegan” compost. Nothing animal or human used to make it. Just sawdust from lumber mills and tree trimmings. |
Compost vs Soil Mix. What’s the Difference?
Compost is made to mix in soil. Soil Mixes are already mixed! Soil mixes are “Hamburger Helper” of the landscape supply world, if you will. Any of the Viragrow composts should be mixed with a soil by about one bucket for three buckets of soil….about 25% by volume.
There are four composts sold at Viragrow:
Viragrow Compost (aka, 166) is made by composting municipal solid waste (MSW) and screening this compost fine enough for use as a topdressing for turfgrass and lawns. It contains a small percentage of composted human biosolids found in the MSW.
Viragrow Compost, aka 166, is a rich compost made and screened at the Inland Empire Composting |
Facility in southern California.
“Organic” Compost (aka, Vegan compost) is made from waste from sawmills composted with mineral fertilizers. No animal or human waste is used.
GS Compost is made mostly from yard waste that is finely ground and screened. It could be classified as a “natural” compost but contains no composted biosolids or MSW (municipal solid waste).
Premium Compost is the same as Viragrow Compost (so it contains composted biosolids) but it is not as finely screened as 166. it is screened so the larger pieces of wood are permitted.
Soil Mixes
Soil Mixes are made by mixing compost with a special type of sand only available from Viragrow…a screened sand. Other places use inexpensive Reject Sand or fill sand in the soil mixes but Viragrow doesn’t. It costs more but it produces a better backfill for plants.
I am usually at Viragrow every Monday morning so schedule a time 2 come in and see me. Contact me first and make sure I'll be there because I am retired!
Do you happen to have a chemical breakdown of the Viragrow compost? I purchase a bunch of bags of it, our Carob tree is responding very positively to it.
Viragrow compost is made from composting of municipal solid waste which includes some biosolids. The compost comes from the inland Empire composting facility in Rancho Cucamonga California.