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Well-finished compost can be used at any time,
in any season and in any amount. There is no such thing as too much
compost!
Begin to enjoy the many benefits of compost by digging
it into the top 4" of vegetable and flower beds in the spring.
This will establish a good humus level and
mineral balance in your soil, and provide the nutrients that your
plants need. In mid-season, mix compost with soil as a side
dressing along vegetable rows or around flower plants.
In established plantings of perennials, where you
want to condition the soil and increase fertility without uprooting
the plants, work compost liberally into
the top 4 inches of soil. Even deep-rooted perennials will perk
up! The compost, which contains natural antibiotics, will
also help ward off plant diseases.
Compost also makes a fine
mulch when you have a lot of it. In the spring, spread a
3-4” layer around trees, shrubs, perennials, fruit trees and
berries. The mulch will prevent soil moisture from evaporating,
suppress weeds and supply nutrients as it slowly works into the
soil.
You can top-dress an established lawn with up to 1/2
inch of compost, or use it as a potting soil for houseplants, or
as a rich supplement to your seed-starting medium.
Some nutrients in compost are water soluble, so you
can make "compost tea" for seedlings, houseplants and
other delicate plants. |
