Buying Compost

Hi,

Can anyone recommend a specific brand of compost and a store in Michigan where I can buy it?


I've found it's really hard to find compost (and I don't really have time to make my own to get this garden going - that will have to wait until next year). I know people say look for five ingredients, but it's really hard to find compost in general, much less specific ingredients. I've called a few local places and all they can tell me is "mostly wood and yard waste."

Is there a difference between compost and potting soil? I can find plenty of that.
Finally, will "composted & manure" work?

Thanks for all your help!

Mrcmb99, I replied to most of those questions in This Post, but you have Lowe's, Home Depot, Walmart and Meijers nearby that all sell various types of bagged compost. Just read the ingredients on the label to ensure it is good composted material and not "biosolids".  You should also have a local Redford Topsoil which sells locally made bulk compost.

Also, mrcmb99, TRY to avoid lots of wood. It breaks down very slowly. And look at the amount of sand.... I've seen some "compost" that's mostly sand & wood chips. :-(

And welcome to our party, btw! :-)

mrcmb99, there might be other outlets/sources in your area but a simple google search for organic compost in Michigan and another for your location gave me this link. I don't know how much you need but the Sq. Ft. Gardening book tells you how to calculate. I would take a look at RJs Mix plus give it a quick smell and if it smells earthy could be a source for you.  There are other locations, this was only one I found in your area there were others and I have never done business with them so this is not a recommendation but maybe someone else here has personally dealt with them and will share their experience. 

 https://www.panettasupply.com/soils-sands          Good luck on your gardening and a bountiful harvest.

MrCMB,
I googled Livonia, Michigan Craigslist - it resulted in Detroit Metro
Then on CL I searched COMPOST and here are the results:

Free Compost (Rochester)
https://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/zip/d/rochester-free-compost/6871443227.html

compost-topsoil and millings (Waterford)
https://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/for/d/compost-topsoil-and-millings/6870060367.html

Organic Compost - $9 (troy)
https://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/grd/d/troy-organic-compost/6869200102.html

There are others listed in the nearby section but I don't know the area very well, but they list work castings, rabbit manure, etc.

oops. also searched MANURE:
horse manure fertilizer for gardens (warren Michigan 48088)
https://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/for/d/rockwood-horse-manure-fertilizer-for/6869920339.html

Composted Cow Manure - $1 (Metamora MI)
https://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/grd/d/metamora-composted-cow-manure/6850181900.html

Composted Cow Manure 50 lb bags - $4 (Richmond)
https://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/grd/d/new-haven-composted-cow-manure-50-lb/6860976218.html

Free Fertilizer: Composted Horse Manure (White Lake MI)
https://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/grd/d/white-lake-free-fertilizer-composted/6861288083.html

RT and Dan, Thank you for going the extra mile.

Mr. C, Also read the ingredients for the presence of peat moss and/or coir. You may have to reduce the amount of peat moss in your Mel's Mix and up the compost to ensure enough true compost.

Stopped by Tractor Supply Co. this morning during their senior's hour to get some more pine pellets for my compost tumbler, and noticed that they have "Nature's Care Really Good Compost" 1 cu ft bags on sale from the regular $4.99 to $2.99.  I'm not really a fan of Miracle-Gro products, but at $2.99 per cubic foot it is hard to pass up a deal like that. And, since I emptied all of my compost tumblers to prepare the raised beds for spring, I decided to pick up a Jeep full of bags of compost.

OG, Can you get some Nature's Care for me??!!

sanderson wrote:OG, Can you get some Nature's Care for me??!!  

I probably got enough for both of us!  LOL

I like it as one of the composts, but I can't find it this year.

sanderson wrote:I like it as one of the composts, but I can't find it this year.

I asked the guy at Tractor Supply why they were selling it at half-off, and he said it was because they were going to discontinue carrying it.  Home Depot already discontinued it, so apparently it will become much harder to find.