Compost is becoming an increasingly popular soil amendment with growers, landscapers and other end users. Compost consists of organic matter (such as leaves, landscape trimmings, food scraps, or woody debris) that
has undergone varying degrees of decomposition. In California, commercial composters are required to meet specific regulatory requirements on the compost process itself that protect health and safety. However, because no state or national standards exist for rating the quality of compost products, you must perform your own quality assessment. In addition to a visual inspection, you may want to assess other compost characteristics to ensure that
you’re getting a product that meets your specific needs within the price range that you’re willing to pay. Before shopping for compost, determine your reasons for using
compost. Once you’ve determined the performance requirements (e.g., for seed germination), look for a
compost with appropriate characteristics. The table below
is designed to help you assess compost products. The table is organized down the left column by performance requirement and across the top row by characteristic.