text: Comparing Landscape Products 
  A variety of soil and landscape products are sold. Here’s a 
  comparison: 
  
  **Compost**is stable, decomposed organic matter, excellent for 
  improving soil structure, fertility, moisture holding capacity, and 
  plant growth. 
  
  **Mulch**is any material applied to the soil surface. Woody mulches 
  (high in carbon, low in nitrogen) like wood chips, bark and woody 
  composts are great for woody plants. Annual plants should be 
  mulched with nutrient-balanced mulches like compost, grass 
  clippings, or leaves. 
  
  **Peat Moss**is partially decayed sphagnum moss from peat bogs. It 
  provides soil porosity, but not the nutrients or biological diversity for 
  healthy soil that compost provides. 
  
  **Fertilizers**are concentrated sources of plant nutrients, used in small 
  amounts to supplement natural soil fertility. 
  
  **Topsoil**that is sold is usually not native topsoil. Quality 
  manufactured topsoils are a blend of native sandy sub-soils with 
  composted organic matter to support soil life. 