It makes a dandy nutritious mulch and fertilizer in the summer! Don't wait, it's best when it's fresh.

Toad_ca - Also in western, WA & congrates on your large amount of finished compost!

No need to dig in around shrubs & perennials just spread on top, but not too thick around the rhodie family.

FYI - if you want perennial seedlings from your already bloomed plants you might not want to spread the mulch, but if you don't -- mulch easily smothers them & you won't have to weed them out. For the perennials that haven't yet bloomed it won't matter.

I like to save a bit for fall planting projects to fill holes & spread where I'm adding newly divided or cuttings of groundcovers. Let some dry out after sifting to put in bag or container.

Gee, thought I had posted a response already.
Oh well.

Thank you both for getting back to me so quickly! And thank you corrine1 for the warning about seedlings. There are some perennials I definitely do want babies from, so the compost went elsewhere.

It may not be finished yet - feel free to send me a pail of the compost so that I can test it for you.

:) Rachel

ps. my plants love our summer compost!

The best time to spread compost is when you have it to spread. Laying compost down as mulch when flowers are just blooming will not keep any seeds they produce from germinating since when they just blossom they have not grown any seed, yet. I have put compost down where Columbine have blossomed and dropped seeds and have not seen any problem with them growing the next year, however.