www.mushroomcompost.org Top 10 Reasons to Use Applying Mushroom Compost in Mushroom Compost Landscaping & Lawn Care Commercial Applications that to Landscaping & Lawns Include Mushroom Compost 1 Suppresses sporulation of the artillery fungus in landscape mulch. P Mine reclamation projects 2 Decrease or eliminate the cost of liming by using P Wetland material a low cost, consistently high quality organic fertilizer of Mushroom Compost. P Storm water management basins 3 Restore soil structure by improving soil quality, P Stream retrofit material nutrient content and beneficial soil microbe population and activity. P Highway site remediation 4 Improve water retention during drought P Parking lot islands conditions and in poor soils. P Green roofs 5 Mushroom Compost’s organic nutrient values are verifiably consistent and available P Filtration socks year round. P Compost blankets 6 It is sustainable agriculture and a good environ- mental stewardship practice, providing a nutrient P Erosion control rich soil amendment in a complete ecological recycling process. P Filters heavy metals 7 Addition of compost reverses soil organic matter depletion, providing improved turfgrass and plant production. 8 Composting stabilizes nitrogen and reduces Relative Value of nitrate leaching. Fresh Mushroom Compost 9 Improved water infiltration in clay soils. To Commercial Fertilizers 1 0 Mushroom Compost is a Pennsylvania Department Numbers are calculated from a wet volume basis. of Agriculture (PDA) accepted fertilizer and PA Preferred product. 1 ton MC (www.agriculture.state.pa.us/papreferred) (equivalent to 3.5 cubic yards) Nitrogen (N) = 22.27 lbs/ton

Support for this Phosphate (P205) = 13.29 lbs/ton project was provided by a grant from Potash (K20) = 24.70 lbs/ton The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture What is Mushroom Compost? What Essential Plant Sod Often referred to as Spent Mushroom Substrate Nutrients are in The soil preparation should be prepared as for new Mushroom Compost? (SMS), Mushroom Compost is the composted result of lawns. The soil should be moistened before sod is laid. From 30 random samples of a rich growth medium for mushrooms. It is made from 1 fresh Mushroom Compost, After laying sod, uniformly apply /2 inch Mushroom agricultural materials, such as hay, straw, straw horse Dr. Michael Fidanza, Associate Compost on the seams for improved rooting. bedding, poultry litter, cottonseed meal, cocoa shells Professor of Horticulture, and gypsum. Sphagnum peat moss adds to the organic The Pennsylvania State Established Lawns nature of the substrate, providing a consistent, University (Reading, PA), Renew an older lawn using Mushroom Compost. Spike the published these results. 1 formulated and homogeneous product. lawn for aeration, uniformily spread about /2 inch layer of Mean of Parameters Measured/Calculated Mushroom Compost over the lawn’s surface, spread seed After mushrooms are harvested, the Mushroom On a Wet Volume Basis: Compost is steam treated prior to removal to eliminate and work into the lawn. A flexible rake is a perfect tool. 3 any pest, pathogens and weed seeds resulting in a bulk density 574.73 lbs/yd Water thoroughly and often until the seed germinates. PDA accepted fertilizer product. pH 6.62 C:N (carbon-to-nitrogen) ratio 12.79 : 1 Flowers Shrubs & Trees Mushroom Compost has high water and nutrient soluble salts (1:5 w:w) 13.27 mmhos/cm Use Mushroom Compost as a soil amendment when holding capacity and exhibits no nitrogen draw down planting flowers, shrubs and trees. No other fertilizer problems. As a fertilizer and organic soil amendment, lbs/yd3 % is needed in the first year. Mushroom Compost supports plant growth in a solids 243.37 42.35 variety of applications to the lawn and landscape Artillery Fungus moisture 331.47 57.67 and inhibits Artillery Fungus. Artillery Fungus lives in wood mulch and shoots organic matter 146.73 25.53 black spores toward light surfaces, such as build- carbon (C) 81.13 14.12 Using Mushroom Compost ings, siding and cars. According to research studies total nitrogen (N) 6.40 1.12 for Lawn Establishment at Penn organic nitrogen (Organic-N) 6.19 1.08 New Lawns: Fall is the best time to seed new lawns State Uni- ammonium nitrogen (NH -N) 0.21 0.04 and the best time to incorporate Mushroom Com- 4 versity by phosphorus as P O 3.82 0.67 post into your seeding plan. Prepare the seed area 2 5 Dr. Donald potassium as K O 7.10 1.24 by covering with 1 – 2 inches (or 3 – 6 cubic yards per 2 Davis, when calcium (Ca) 13.17 2.29 1,000 feet) of Mushroom Compost, till into the soil to mushroom a depth of 4 – 6 inches for maximum benefit. magnesium (Mg) 2.01 0.35 compost is sulfur (S) 4.91 0.85 Sow the grass seed uniformly over the soil surface at mixed with iron (Fe) 1.07 0.19 a rate and recommended use for your seed. Cover mulch in 1 1 manganese (Mn) 0.12 0.02 the grass seed with another /4 to /2 inch layer of propor- copper (Cu) 0.04 0.01 Mushroom Compost (approximately 1 – 2 cubic yards tions of sodium (Na) 0.67 0.12 per 1,000 feet). Rake the area lightly to ensure good just 20 to seed-soil contact. Water well. aluminum (Al) 0.89 0.15 50 per- zinc (Zn) 0.05 0.01 Post seeding care only requires daily watering to keep cent, the the soil uniformly moist until the new grass seedlings Artillery have reached 1 1/ inches in height, which is typically 2 www.mushroomcompost.org Fungus is about three weeks after emergence. inhibited.