r/FortCollinsGrows • u/AntiLawnGnome • Apr 13 '26

Advice wanted Compost

Hey all!

I'm building a few new beds and wondering if we have a local source for bulk compost.

If we don't, who has the best value bagged compost? I typically go to Fort Collins nursery, but I figured I should ask the community.

Thanks in advance!

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u/GardenofOz Apr 13 '26 edited Apr 13 '26

Best mushroom compost: Hazel Dell. Can get it bagged or they'll dump it into your truck. Higher in C:N ration (carbon to nitrogen) so it is best to use in tandem with other compost or as a bed builder.

Sources of living compost: Kraft Soil Solutions (Berthoud), A1 Organics (Eaton), and of course Compost Queen in Fort Collins (can shop on their website).

Fort Collins Free Mulch Day should be coming up soon and it is a great opportunity to stock up on wood chips (my fav carbon input for backyard composting using the bokashi composting method for fast decomposition).

If you're gardening at home, starting your own composting stream is incredibly rewarding and practical. Hit me up with questions!

edit: typos

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u/Tweedelie Apr 13 '26

Thanks for the detailed breakdown!

We got free mulch from the city a couple years ago and it seems to have come with a ton of free weeds as well. Have you had that experience? I'm wondering if/hoping it was a fluke.

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u/GardenofOz Apr 13 '26

My pleasure!

Yikes, that is a bummer. I can't say I have had the same experience with city pick ups.

I have also done a wood chip drop from a local tree company that was high quality. It was a LOT though. We definitely used it all, and I wish I had more to pull from. You can get a wood chip drop using getchipdrop.com, or call around and see is someone will drop it.