What to do with used compost
Hello,
Each year I grow a variety of plants in containers, some free standing and some fixed to the walls. This year for the first time, I am growing Potatoes in bags and Runner Beans in pots.
The flowers are always very pretty and so far the vegetables look ok.
In the past I have always scattered and dug in a bit the compost from containers at the end of the season. I thought this was a good idea given that the soil here is clay and also a bit scarce in places.
Recently though I read that compost should be disposed of because it will have lost all of its value over the summertime.
This is just bags of multi-purpose compost from Sainsburys usually and certainly nothing hugely expensive.
Is it ok to still put it on the flower-beds or is that not a wise thing to do?
Posts
It would still help the soil by improving the texture. The fact that it is low in nutrients is not a problem.
Thankyou Alan...I will continue then
Continue to use it as you are doing. On clay soil the organic matter is beneficial as it improves the soil structure. The only thing lost is the nutrients which are easily added back. In fact some folk re-use multi-purpose compost even in pots and other containers for several years by simply mixing in fish, blood and bone or other general purpose fertliizers to replace the nutrients taken up by plants. No need to ever throw away spent compost (unless you have nowhere to use it.)
Hi there all,
I did not know that BobTheGardener that is very useful I will try that on my plants. Also may I say that re-using Sainsbury fertiliser is a must I would do that. I am a great fan of Sainsbury. My whole home is a Sainsbury. That is because they gave my cousin a job when he lost his job and he had a family to feed so they decided to put him behind the scenes to sort out what ingredients would go into their food for people. Yes you have him to thank for the ingredients just joking!!! I love their produce.
Hello , I take all my used compost up to my allotment and either put it on the beds or in compost bins ,
personally I prefer to buy new compost each year to prevent any build up of bugs etc.
before the allotment I reused it on the garden with some bone meal
all the best
BobTheGardener, clattnow and GWRS, Thankyou for your advice
I was wondering what to do with old compost, and happily I know now,
suns shining, time to reuse that compost. Thanks chaps.
As others said, just stick it on the beds as a mulch. The worms will love it and pull it down into the soil.
'You must have some bread with it me duck!'