Can Partially Composted Lawn Clippings Lead To A Nitrogen Excess In My Garden?

Question

I started raised bed gardening this year. I filled the beds with a mixture of recycled soil from a raised bed (at church) 5 years ago, a bag of Espoma raised qarden bed mix, potting soil, purchased topsoil, and the contents of two partially composted piles of lawn clippings with some leaves and food waste. My plants have grown much taller than ever before. Could this be from the partially composted lawn clippings?

Answer 1

It may have something to do with the compost holding moisture in the soil, better.

Uncomposted materials are not readily available to plants, and will require breaking down before any of that nitrogen is able to be taken up.

Likely, it has invited some microbes to the area, which can help break down organic matter into nutrients while helping plants to become healthier.

It is important to know that this is luck of the draw. Sometimes, using uncomposted materials can draw in bad microbes that will destroy your plants. It is good that it didn't happen, here, but know that it can happen when using uncomposted materials.

Here are some articles that will help you with composting:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/category/composting/ingredients

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/composting/basics/ultimate-beginners-guide-composting.htm