How to Use Compost Throughout the Garden Season for Optimal Growth

The first step is to evaluate your compost. Once the materials in your compost pile have broken down into compost, you’ll be ready to use it to enrich your garden. Depending on the conditions, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months for your compost to be ready. 

Finished compost is dark brown, almost back, crumbly, and soil-like without chunks of material that haven’t fully decomposed. It should no longer be generating heat, and it should have a sweet, earthy smell. Compost that has large chunks, is too wet, is hot, or smells bad is not ready.

There’s really no bad time to apply compost to your garden, as long as you make sure not to apply too much at once. Too much compost can cause nutrient imbalances, water retention issues, soil compaction, and make the soil too acidic, so make sure not to overdo it.

The most common times to apply compost are early spring, a few weeks before preparation for planting, and in fall, after you’ve harvested your crops. Both of these times work well because they give the compost time to break down and integrate with the soil. 

However, if your soil needs additional nutrients, you can also apply compost throughout the growing season. This can especially be true if you live in a mild climate and your garden is actively growing plants year-round. Also, certain plants that require extra nutrients can benefit from a monthly application of compost.

How much compost you need depends on the condition of your soil, the size of your garden, what sort of plants you’re growing, and their nutrient requirements. A layer of compost between 2-3 inches thick worked into about 6-8 inches of soil is a good ratio. In raised beds or containers, use no more than 25-30% compost in your soil blends to prevent damage to your plants. 

You don’t have to apply compost to the whole garden at once, so don’t get overwhelmed! If you only have a limited amount of compost, time, or energy, that’s fine. Simply concentrate on areas with poorer soil or that you’re planning to use sooner and keep track of what soil you have enriched and what still needs some extra TLC.

Remove weeds and loosen the soil. This can be done with a tiller or a garden fork so that you can easily mix the compost in. Spread the compost evenly over the garden bed, using a fork or shovel to work it in. Water your garden to help the compost mix into the soil.

Top-dressing compost is also a great way to feed your lawn naturally while building your soil. Compost is environmentally friendly and helps improve soil drainage and protect against erosion. It’s a great alternative to chemical fertilizers that are harmful to the environment and can actively harm soil health.

Compost tea is exactly what it sounds like! It’s a fertilizer made by steeping compost in water for several days. This compost tea can be strained off and used to fertilize plants without disturbing the soil or your plants’ root systems. It’s also great for use with potted plants that don’t have much room to add a layer of compost.