compost
Loading your saved state.
compost
A mixture of decomposed organic materials such as plant remains and kitchen waste, used to improve soil quality in the garden.
Wir werfen alle organischen Küchenabfälle auf den Kompost.
We throw all organic kitchen waste onto the compost.
The word 'Kompost' (compost) is related to 'komponieren' (to compose). Both come from the idea of 'putting together': just as a musician composes notes, compost is a composition of different organic materials.
Ein guter Kompost besteht aus einer Mischung von grünen und braunen Materialien.
Good compost consists of a mixture of green and brown materials.
Pay attention to the difference between direction and location. You throw waste 'auf den Kompost' (onto the compost, accusative), but the waste then lies 'auf dem Kompost' (on the compost, dative).
Bitte wirf die Apfelreste auf den Kompost.
Please throw the apple scraps onto the compost.
In connection with gardening, 'Kompost' (compost) is often used with certain verbs: you can 'anlegen' (start) compost, 'umsetzen' (turn/mix) it, or 'ausbringen' (spread) the finished soil.
Im Herbst ist die beste Zeit, um den reifen Kompost im Garten auszubringen.
Autumn is the best time to spread the mature compost in the garden.
fertilizer
Dünger and Kompost can both supply soil or plants with nutrients. Dünger is a general term for a substance that is added, while Kompost is a specific material made from decomposed organic matter. Use Dünger when referring to the function, and Kompost when this specific material is meant.
Für das neue Gemüsebeet mischt die Gärtnerin Kompost aus Küchenabfällen unter die Erde.
For the new vegetable bed, the gardener mixes compost made from kitchen scraps into the soil.
Für die schwachen Pflanzen gibt der Gärtner etwas Dünger in die Erde.
The gardener adds some fertilizer to the soil for the weak plants.
