Compost often coats landscaper's nose (5)
I believe the answer is:
mulch
'compost' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how they can define each other.
'often coats landscaper's nose' is the wordplay.
'often' becomes 'much' (I've seen this in another clue).
'coats' is an insertion indicator (inserted letters are coated in another word).
'nose' says to take the initial letters (nose can mean the front of something).
The first letter of 'landscaper' is 'l'.
'much' going around 'l' is 'MULCH'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for mulch that I've seen before include "Decaying leaves, bark or compost spread around a plant" , "Protective vegetation" , "Mixture of straw, leaves etc spread on ground to protect plants" , "Treat with compost" , "Ground cover" .)