Coast of Maine Lobster & Crab Compost

We stock Coast of Maine Lobster & Crab Compost in 1 cu. ft. bags. One bag covers approximately 12 sq. ft. when applied at a depth of 1”.

We offer local delivery services for bagged and bulk products. In addition to delivery, we can also provide installation services. If you’re interested in having our team install your compost, please book a landscape appointment and select Garden Cleanup, Mulch and Sod as the appointment type.

You can use Cost of Maine Lobster & Crab Compost to condition your soil before planting or as a topdressing on established beds.

To condition your soil with Coast of Maine Lobster & Crab Compost before planting:

• Measure the length and width of your garden area to determine your square footage and put it into our convenient product calculator to determine how much soil conditioner you will need in your area.
• Remove any existing debris from your desired planting area, such as leaves, branches, roots and twigs. If your soil is particularly dry, compacted or dense, water the area 1 to 2 days in advance to make the soil easier to work with. Then, use a garden fork or rake to till the soil where you’ll be adding the soil conditioner. Be careful to avoid compacting the soil too much as you are tilling.
• Start spreading the soil conditioner around your desired area. We recommend applying a 2 to 3” layer of Coast of Maine Lobster & Crab Compost and working it into the top 4 to 6” of soil using a rake. This will help get the nutrients down into the root system. After you work and mix the conditioner into the soil, give it a thorough watering.
• If you’re planting in a new area of your yard, consider conducting a soil test. Soil tests are available through labs, universities and do it yourself test kits that we sell here at Merrifield Garden Center.

To give your established garden beds a boost of nutrients, topdress with Coast of Maine Lobster & Crab Compost:

• Apply a 1 to 2” layer of Coast of Maine Lobster & Crab Compost directly onto the surface of the bed.
• You can leave it on the surface as a "mulch-like" layer or lightly rake it into the very top layer of soil.
• This is best done in the fall to allow nutrients to break down over winter, or in the early spring before planting.

You can also use Coast of Maine Lobster & Crab Compost when planting trees and shrubs:

• Dig a hole that is at least 6” wider than the plant’s root ball on all sides. The top of your plant’s root ball should be slightly higher than ground level.
• Mix equal parts Coast of Maine Lobster & Crab Compost with your existing garden soil and backfill around your plants, gently tamping down the soil as you go. Be careful not to overly compress the soil as it will eliminate valuable air space that the plant's roots will need to grow and thrive.
• Apply 2 to 3” of mulch on top, making sure to keep it away from the trunk of newly planting trees and shrubs.
• Water the area thoroughly until the root ball and soil are fully saturated.

How do I know which soil conditioner to use?

Compost and other soil conditioners like Coast of Maine Lobster & Crab Compost, McGills Premium Compost, Leafgro, Bumper Crop and Soil Mate are all interchangeable and can be used anywhere in the landscape. With that said, they each have their own ideal application.

Coast of Maine Lobster & Crab Compost is ideal to use when planting tomatoes and vegetable plants. McGills works best when added to lawns. Leafgro and Soil Mate is the most economical choice and can be used in all locations. Bumper Crop works well in vegetable gardens. Soil Mate is similar to Leafgro and it is the only soil conditioner we have in bulk.

How do I know how much soil conditioner to use?

We recommend measuring the length and width of the area you wish to condition to determine the square footage. Then, plug these numbers into our convenient product calculator to figure out how much soil conditioner you will need.