Using a compost fertilizer can enrich your garden’s soil and ensure better growth of plants and flowers. Fertilizer that consists of compost materials also doesn’t contain many of the toxic chemicals that are known to harm the environment. These four green compost materials can be excellent options for your soil.

Fruit and Vegetable Peelings

The skin from potatoes and carrots that you peel off and ordinarily discard can make great compost materials. Banana peels also work well when heated in an oven and then spread throughout a garden. An entire peel can be placed beneath the soil near the roots of a plant or flower to have the best effect. You might also consider using corn cobs and husks to help your vegetation grow healthier.

Teabags

Instead of tossing teabags out after preparing cups or kettles of tea, try using them as fertilizer. After opening the bags, spread the tealeaves throughout your garden. Some teabags are already made from compostable, biodegradable materials and can be placed in your garden without having to open them. If you’d like to know how to make compost faster using additional materials in your composter, adding moist tealeaves can speed up the process.

Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds can also be used as fertilizer by simply sprinkling them throughout your garden. Several ingredients are found in coffee grounds that can improve the quality of soil to promote better vegetation growth. Coffee grounds also have the ability to improve the soil’s aeration and help the soil retain its moisture while draining excess water more effectively. More earthworms can also be attracted with coffee grounds, which can further help your soil.

Fallen Leaves

Leaves that fall from nearby trees can be placed throughout your garden and will become ideal fertilizer as they decompose. The autumn is an especially good time of year for collecting a lot of fallen leaves to add to your garden. If you don’t have many deciduous trees near where you live, you can go to a nearby park or wilderness trail to collect a large stash. Any leaves that fall onto your lawn can also become fertilizer when you mow over them.

Using natural compost materials as fertilizer can help you get the lush and health garden that you want without the potentially detrimental chemicals that are found in some synthetic fertilizers. Simply repurposing certain materials that you use or ordinarily discard can do wonders for your vegetation growth.

Author's Bio: 

Anica is a professional content and copywriter who graduated from the University of San Francisco. She loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor-related. You can connect with Anica on Twitter @AnicaOaks.