Using Your Compost
Uses for compost around the home include flower beds, vegetable gardens or as a mulch around plants and on established lawns. For all of these uses, it is important to know how much compost to use. If you are seeding a new lawn you can add compost to the soil to improve the soil before you seed.
Topdressing
For best results, aerate the entire area before topdressing. Spread 1/3 to 1/4 cm. of mature compost evenly over the area using a rake. Water thoroughly. The water helps the compost move through the thatch layer to the soil surface and into aeration holes where it can help retain valuable moisture.
Flower Beds
For existing beds, add about 2.5 cm. of compost and work it into the soil using a rake, hoe, shovel or rototiller. Water until the entire root zone is saturated. For best results with new beds, add 2.5 to 5 cm of compost and rototill to at least a 12 cm depth. Plant and water accordingly. Most annuals and perennials perform well in compost amended soils.
Tree Planting
Rototill an area about 3 to 5 times the diameter of the root ball of the tree to be planted. Add about 30% compost by volume to the area and mix thoroughly outside the hole with the native soil. Place the tree into the hole and use the compost amended soil mixture as a backfill around the root ball. Remove excess soil and water thoroughly.
Vegetable Gardens
Apply about 2.5 cm of compost and incorporate into the soil to a depth of 12 cm with a rototiller or by hand. For poor soils, you may need to apply compost on a yearly basis until the soil has improved to your satisfaction. Do not overapply compost because many vegetables will not produce high yields if excess nitrogen is in the soil. Compost used as a mulch can be turned into the soil prior to replanting.
Mulch
For mulch applications around annuals, perennials and other landscape plants, a 5 cm layer of compost is optimum. Apply compost and rake to achieve an even application. Avoid over or under mulching because other problems can arise, such as smothering of root systems. Arrange mulch so water flows away from trunks, reducing chances for crown rot. Finer-textured composts do not suppress weeds as well as coarse-textured composts.