Moruga: YOU probably want to do it in the fall. That way, it's ready when it thaws. Personally, I do both a spring and fall because I'm year round. But, generally, if it's finished compost, a good couple weeks with a good couple deep soakings is sufficient prior to planting.

I've heard of people doing the lasagna thing, but I always till it. There's a debate on this disrupting the soil food web, but I like tilling it and many others do too.

You can lay it on top as mulch also. And then till it in in the fall. If you do use as mulch, just don't lay it on 4 inches thick in one application.

Kevin

Morgua - I till in compost in Spring a few weeks prior to planting out. I have tilled compost/manure in, in the fall when I have time, but I'm lucky lately to get the beds cleaned out in the fall with all the other fall clean-up at home and lake. Just ensure the garden has dried out - I've seen too many people over the years get antsy and damage their soil by tilling soil that's not dry.

Sandy

Awesome. Thanks guys. Yeah I took soil science and they say to not till too much because it ruins the structure. I will go ahead and just put a layer of it on top

To me it depend on "WHY" i want to add compost to my raised beds. If the purpose is soil conditioning and amendment, I do it in the fall as I but the beds to sleep.:). But if I want to use it as mulch or as side fertilizing, then I can add it any time during the season. Composts ( to my understanding) are not very rich in nutrients like NPK. So their effect is very mild.

I usually till it in if there are no plants yet, and if there are, then I just top-dress.

Compost has its own smaller ratios of NPK. It can be used in place of additional fertilizers, though adding them will benefit also. Some gardeners use only compost and no other fertilizer products. The reason it looks like it has much less ratio (such as 0.5 instead of 10) is because we will generally put in more compost than the fertilizer. For example, some use 100% compost, others may use 50% or 33% compost in their growing mixture. Compare that to commercial fertilizers which may say, 1 tsp per 100 square feet.

"Composts ( to my understanding) are not very rich in nutrients like NPK. So their effect is very mild."

That is one of the most misinforming statements I've ever read. Sorry seysonn if I offend you, but that statement offends all of us who use compost.

Compost(decomposed organic matter) is the #1 item that you can add to your garden for making it "fertile." Yes, at first measurement, compost isn't very high in % of anything, but given time in the soil feeding the microbes and worms, it's loaded with nutes.

Moruga: You're on the other end of till versus no till argument. Nothing wrong with using it as a mulch or side dress, but at the very least, I'd scratch a couple inches into the top few inches. It will be usable to the plants so much quicker when it's in wet soil. Especially if you've never tilled the area to begin with.

Kevin

This post was edited by woohooman on Fri, Apr 25, 14 at 14:45

This year I'm growing in a community garden plot that appears never to have been used. The soil is full of clay and and overgrown with grass and weeds. It's a mess. So, to start with, I spaded it thoroughly and then broke up clumps. Then I spread a layer of compost over the soil and went through with the shovel and a hand tiller to work it into the soil. If I had access to the plot earlier in the season, I would have done this in the fall.

I will continue throughout the season to put layers of compost on top of the soil on the theory that it works well as a mulch and water will carry nutrients into the soil for the plants.

I'm not big on tilling as a rule, but in a situation like that where I'm dealing with the type of conditions I had to start with, I think tilling makes sense. Even if it has to be done in the Spring.

How long before planting do you place your compost into your garden? And do you till it into the garden or just use it as a top soil?Hey now,
Dump it on and mix a bit. If poultry litter (or other hi-N animal manure), do use a bit of caution and cover or mix to preserve N.. However, even with the chicken applied at way above recommended rate, I have not experienced problems with it despite the Garden Church Ladies' opinions on this subject. Heap it in and pile it in heavy. I go with at least 4#/sq ft (horse manure) for established patch... more if I have the energy. It is hard to go wrong with most of this stuff. I apply it (for the most part) rather uncomposted (again to the chagrin of the Garden Church Ladies). Weed-seed on fresh horse is an issue and will need to be addressed with some grunting. But that is really the major thing on this. Do not listen to the Garden Church Ladies on this subject... they are almost assuredly wrong.

Reggie