I know they were from the compost

Keep in mind that compost and composted manures are not the same thing. I honestly can say that I have never seen compost for sale in any of the big box stores around here. Sure they offer all sorts of composted manures in bags but most of the bagged composted manures are from stockyard stockpiles so much less than ideal - this is an often discussed problem over on the Composting Forum here - and those folks are the real Kings of Composting.

I can't say i have ever heard of anyone buying bagged compost either. They either make their own or they buy it in bulk from a local landscaper or nursery or they get it from a city composting program. I know some of the online garden vendors sell it (Gardens Alive is one) but it is quite expensive.

As for weed free, I'm not sure such a thing exists, even when you make your own as I do. And I do hot active composting. Animals eat weeds and poop seeds so if using composted manures then weeds and gardening go hand-in-hand.

If you can find a local source of either goat or rabbit manure and compost it yourself that is the best bet - not weed free but better.

Dave

Thank you, Sloan, but I'll leave that to the pros. I stay away from most herbs due to cross allergies with weeds. Trucking in isn't an option here. The nurseries sell potting mix type of soil, but I don't want that.

We have such a short growing season that it takes too long to make our own compost.

Thanks, Dave! I do have 2 large garbage bags of pine mulch that self composted in my path over the years and I just replaced it with new larger chips. Maybe I could use that as a soil lifter/lightener. I added some to a bed last year and it took the full year to really do it's thing, but this year that soil is nice and fluffy. What do you think?

Rebecca, ...I add pine bark mulch to the beds now and then for aeration and improve drainage. . Also mulch the beds with small pine bark nuggets. I have used a lot of "steer manure" blend (from HD) and chicken manure too. Never have had any weed problem.

Years ago I used some wheat straw, and hay. Then I got lots of weeds. Switched to pine straw (pine needles). NO weed.

You can also "Solarize" the beds before planting out. Just let the weeds grow merrily and then cover the bed with clear plastic. "Weeds be gone ".

Sey

Black Kow composted cow manure is hot composted, but as Dave said all compost is going to have weed seeds, and it will be hard to find pure compost at a big box store. You can go to a local garden center and see if they have any local goodies.

I started my own compost pile last year and I will be happy to use it this year, you never know what issues you will have with the stuff you buy, whether stockyard or local it could all have issues.

Thank you, Sey! I have 14 arborvitae trees, could I use the dead leaves on the ground from them? I have an abundance of them this year!! Also, I am removing mulch from a pathway, so I could use that, too!! Thank you so much for telling me this! I never knew about the clear plastic, either... Well maybe I did years and years ago, but it was one of those things I forgot. :)

Thank you Peter and Dave, for the compost pile advice. You and Dave are right. Manure makes weeds no matter what. I think I WILL start my own compost pile and it doesn't matter if it takes a long time because of my short season. Over time, it will still break down and become good dirt!

Thank you all for your great advice!! I can't tell you how much it helped and how pumped I am about my new, smaller, retirement garden. Too bad it isn't this easy to decide between cedar and plastic for the raised beds... I am still on the fence about that one. :)

Yeah the length of your growing season doesn't matter when it comes to composting. You can do it year round. And even unfinished homemade compost can be used as a mulch and left to finish in place. Have you checked out all the FAQs over on the Composting forum?

Dave

Oh, Dave, I didn't even think to look for a composting forum... I just knew you guys were on this board and was confident you would have answers for me. I will check it out now, though. 40 years of gardening and never a compost pile. Things are about to change! Thanks, Dave!!

Sometimes you can stumble on local compost where you least expect it. There is a soil company near where I live that offers gravel and dirt for industrial purposes, and also happens to compost grape must from local vineyards and sells it. There is also a horse farm nearby that collects the horse manure and composts it down to usable products that sells it. I found both by local google searches. With some digging, you may find a local source of compost near you that is not a box store?

In a pinch, I have used bags of EB Stone bagged organic compost and also two GreenAll brand bagged products called "Soil Booster" and "Firmulch". Both have been great in my raised beds.

Thanks Mlissca!!!! I'll try google. AND thank you for the brand names that I can check out online and maybe purchase there. My local Ace Hardware, Menards, or Lowes may have them.

Rebecca

I know most people frown on growing Stinging Nettles, but it makes a great tasting tea. I don't even have to put sugar in it. It is a great medicinal herb for reducing inflammation. Gloves are definitely needed to harvest it. It is invasive. So you will have to control it, if you even decide to grow it.

Zzackey, I'm glad that tea works for you, but it took me 2 years to get rid of that stuff in my garden. It would hide and nab me when I was grabbing lettuce or carrots... I never want to see those little buggers again. I am a great believer in alternative medicine... Just not this one. :)

The natural remedy for nettle stings is the juice of crushed Impatiens palllida plant... when you stumble across stinging nettle in its natural habitat, creeks and river banks, there is almost always a stand of Impatiens pallida too. Just take the whole plant, stems and leaves, crush it up in your hands and rub the juice onto the stings. Works real well.

I just bought three trailer loads of composted horse manure from an old timer that I found on Craigslist. The stuff looks beautiful. I will be taking a Ph sample and nutrient sample of it today.

Wow, NC!!! That is a very good thing to know if you live where it a native plant. AND... You hit the motherlode of compost, and I am a bit envious right now!

After reading the posts above and looking over my yard, I realized I had a ton of Arborvitae needles under my trees. I will be taking those up from time to time and using them for mulch or composting them. I used to save grass clippings because I don't spray my lawn with chemicals (I use IRON-X from Garden's Alive) and I think I will start doing that again. I do believe I will be happier with that than if I purchase bagged stuff from a store. Thanks everyone for all your help!!!