I would walk over the beds and compress your fluffy compost.....rake level and then plant your plants....

I envy you your fluffiness! :) I wouldn't walk on it, but I am conditioned for dealing with easily compacted clay soil, so maybe different rules apply.

I have had success with planting in mounds: planting the crown a bit higher than the soil level and hilling up to it rather than planting it level and then seeing it sink down as the soil settles. It also allows space for the fall leaf mulch to "top up" the beds after they've settled in a bit.

your words dont make sense ... and that is why you are confused ...

you used compost as a top dressing.. which is a mulch system ......

and then ask.. how to plant in your mulch ... which you do not do ...

see what i mean ...

you pull back a mulch and plant in the soil ...

or you incorporate compost as an amendment.. and plant at the proper height... and it losses its fluffiness when incorporated into your native soil ....

so define your words.. and i bet my shiny nickle ... you will know what the answer is ..

double check yourself by asking us.. if your answer is correct ..

ken

Thanks for the responses. I was trying to avoid compaction and to save my aching back.

Crikey, Ken, you're right again.