There is no reason you can't apply the compost now. When I had a regular, inground garden, mulching with compost (my preferred mulch) was part of my seasonal clean up, get-ready-for-winter chores.

If you are concerned about it delivering a boost of nutes encouraging growth too late in the season, don't be :-) The nutrient content of compost is too low and slow acting to be an issue.

Yes, that was what I was concerned about. That's great to know. I'd rather spread it now, save myself the chore in the spring and be ahead of schedule for a change. [g] Plus better to be in place where it can start improving the soil than sitting around all winter in the garage, right?

In our SW Idaho, zone 7, I spread compost in November and Plant Tone in February. All photosynthesis ceases here around early November due to the decrease in the sun's strength. I never worry about plants shooting up growth by that time. Our latitude is the same as southern Maine's, so the sun's power wanes rapidly in October. In more southerly zone 7 climates, photosynthesis continues for a longer time into late fall. Diane

Thanks Dianne, It's funny that you are zone 7 but at a latitude like Southern Maine. Here in MA I'm about midway in the state. So to mid NH and then Southern ME. All reports are that mid October you are not producing vitamin D from the sun, so maybe that is an indicator of when the sun is weaker.

USDA zones and their association with higher zones being more southerly and lower zones more northerly can be misleading. For example, my location is further north than the entire state of Maine and yet benefits from being a rather high zone due to geography and marine influences. Compared to MA or SW Idaho our sun is never very strong, even in midsummer, and winters can be nearly frost free. But that doesn't really govern when compost can be applied. It is also important to remember that compost is considered a soil amendment/conditioner rather than a fertilizer, simply because its nutrient content is so low.

It really can be applied to the garden any time you like.

GGal, I've never been to the Pacific Northwest, but the climate does sound really nice. Especially for a gardener. That's very interesting about the geography and marine influences. We watch the weather every morning and on the map we notice there is a town in MA that is South of us and it's always colder by sometimes 10 degrees. Just this morning, I was saying that I was glad I didn't live there [g] and it surprised me it was colder when it was South of us. My DH reminded me that the town is on the other side of the Blue Hills, which I guess would be those geographic influences.

And I think Diane was talking about her application of PlantTone that I believe would be a fertilizer, but thanks again for distinguishing the difference between that and compost.

I always think there are so many knowledgeable people on Garden Web and I learn a lot, and of course, you've always been one of them GardenGal. As has Diane. :-)

Look at my zone. I'm further north than Toronto. But I'm surrounded by water.

I spread compost whenever I have the time, motivation ... and compost.

You'll never go wrong spreading compost.