Tony O’Neill , expert gardener and best - selling author of the famous “ Simplify Vegetable Gardening , ” “ Composting Masterclass , ” and “ Your First Vegetable Garden , ” combines womb-to-tomb passion and expert cognition to simplify horticulture . His mission ? Helping you cultivate a prospering garden . More on Tony O’Neill
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There are a number of ways to reuse compost . you’re able to either use it as mulch or level off your ground . You may even make fresh compost out of it or feed container plants with it .
So , the next clock time you are left with scores ofcompost , you should consider using it over again . Here we also curated 8 astonishing means in which you could reuse your used compost and make the most out of the compost that you have entree to :
Table of Contents
1. Use Old Or Spent Compost As Mulch
Mulching has several benefits , such as maintaining the moisture level of grime . It also gradually releases nutrients to your plants , keep grunge erosion , suppressing gage , and removing the residuary effect of fertilizer or pesticides . Used compost arrive at a fantastic mulch .
And you could use your old compost as mulch in an sluttish way . Simply spread it on top of your vegetable or flower beds . Since compost is course quite dense and absorptive , it will foreclose dehydration and thus lock moisture in .
Just employ a generous amount of compost around a 3 - to-6 - inch level , and rake until the soil is even . This would be an amazing way to hike your soil , specially if you have sandlike orclay soilin your garden .
But other than this , the compost will finally ruffle with the soil , start the worms and soil living , and make a whole Modern rich compost for your plants .
2. Add Finished Compost to Level Your Garden
Another amazing fashion to reuse compost is by leveling your garden . This can help you even out a gradient in your garden you do not need . You may even utilize it to fill up some enkindle layer . Add generous sum of money to the dirt to help build microbial activity and build soil structure .
This will provide the compost to get into the roots , enhancing the nutrient of the dirt and thus promoting plant life emergence . Not to advert , level off the basis can offer up many benefits like proper pee coverage and good drainage .
3. Add Used Compost to a New Compost Pile To Improve Soil
Using spent compost as an ingredient to produce a young batch is a great way to recycle resources and modernize something worthful for your garden . you’re able to easily make unexampled potting soil or compost from your used compost . Begin with move out large dust with the help of a half - to-1 - column inch territory screen or sieve .
bed old and unexampled compost or else . With this , the new compost can moulder into the onetime one while add goodness and nutrients . So , your used compost will be rejuvenated in no clip , and you will double up the amount of viable compost in your garden .
One of the most of import thing to reckon while layer is that you do not need to pack them too tightly . endeavor to keep thin level , which will make melodic phrase circulation much easier . add worms can also serve in creating pathways and allowing better gentle wind incursion . They also have a crowd of other benefits . So , if you could , add as many as possible .
Once you are done , do not forget to cover your compost mound with a waterproof sheet . Add a credit card weather sheet to foreclose the compost from damping during the showery season . The concealment will also trap the rut at bottom and accelerate the process , ensuring your compost is ready sooner .
Here is a list of thing that you’re able to add to your compost to make it a lot more beneficial and nutritive - pack :
4. Use Spent Compost to Brew Compost Tea
Compost afternoon tea is basically a brewed liquid that concentrates bacterium , protozoa , and fungi into a liquid flesh that can be easily absorbed by the dirt . There are majorly two types – compost afternoon tea and oxygenize compost afternoon tea .
While the latter requires atomic number 8 , agitation , and a small more exploit , it can be a good choice as it is not as smelly . Both these case only take about 24 - 36 hr to make and are perfect for increasing the biological activity in your ground .
Compost tea is believe to improve dirt quality and the number of mycorrhizal kingdom Fungi and predatory nematodes that reduce the risk of disease in works . So , using your pass compost to brew some compost tea can be a great idea , yield that your plants can soak up it easily and take out various nutrients from it .
5. Use Leftover Compost for Growing Carrots or Leafy Greens
As a gardener , you would eff that certain plants need fewer fertilizers and nutrient to thrive as compare to others . normally , leafy greens such as spinach , lettuce , and bok choy fall under this family .
So , if you have a lot of ruined compost , growing these plant can help you use them up . Other than this , you’re able to deliberate growing carrots as they also require a less amount of nutrients .
In some cases , older compost can even help you grow better - quality carrots . Excessive nutrients may ensue in little yield size and more foliation rather than bounteous carrot and less foliage . With special nutrients , you could also lessen the risk of theme forking . A win - win situation !
append it to your grime can really aid ameliorate the structure without increasing the fertility if you already have sufficient sum .
6. Use Finished Compost to Fill Raised Beds
Plants tend to do considerably in leaven beds as they declare oneself better drain and warm - up earlier during spring . Moreover , the soil is less compact in raise beds making air penetration well . Also , if you have been planning on build raised beds , this is probably a great time to do so .
One of thebest way to reuse compostis by fill raised beds with it and build an ideal flora - growing surround . you may stab it into the land in the bottom or spread compost over the bed after clearing the ground . Now , you only want to expect and let the worms do their job .
7. Reuse Old Compost as Top Dressing
Another way to use your finished compost is to ruffle it with plant food for thought and top - dress your planters with it . Compost is known to dry out quickly , so mixing it up with dirt is also a great way to ensure balanced bedding for your flowers and plants .
This would forge even better with your recurrent plants , keep them healthy and blooming . you’re able to also consider compost as a top dressing for your perennial plants each yr .
For better results during the give time of year , spread it over ( one to two - inch layer ) during declivity . Adding it to the grunge surface also aid in keeping down weeds .
This will last much longer and extend a continuous source of food to your plants . you’re able to even propagate it across the lawn and rake it until it is slightly visible . It will soon be take down by worms , ground beetles , and other organisms , which will facilitate improve the soil ’s texture and tone .
To see better how to reuse leftover compost , you could watch the video below :
Inoculating The Compostas a Guardian
Compost inoculation is sum up bacterium that assist start the universe outgrowth and speed up the composting process .
This is known to improve the quality of the compost to a pregnant spirit level . If all requirements are meet in good order , 1 bacteria can multiply into 8 billion bacterium in just 13 hours . All you need to do is mix it with water and get it activate , then add it to the dirt .
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between soil and compost?
One of the easiest ways to realise the difference between soil and compost is to remember that compost is used to fertilize the soil . Compost is decayed organic matter that is work into the stain and acts as a nutritional relay link . Compost can be made up of fruits and vegetable scraps , animal manure , and kitchen waste .
How to know if my compost is old?
When you may not recognize your compost ’s food or garden waste , you will know that your compost is spend . It should look alike to dark , nutrient - productive , and healthy garden soil . I spell a blog to help you have sex how long it takes for compost to decompose . you could record ithere .
How to know if used compost is ready to be reused?
Usually , used compost can be used over and over again . But in sure sheath where your plants have observe disease such as onion white rot , you should plausibly consider ditch the remnant compost as it may also taint your flora in the next growing cycle . However , if you are sure that your compost is still healthy and needs to be rejuvenate , you should make the most out of it . Also , remove any biff or snails from the compost before reusing it .
How to prepare my old compost for reuse?
To gear up your idle compost for reuse , remove all the erstwhile plants and gage from it . try out to cut into in to find old plant rhizome as well . This may even help you chance ball of pathogens or insects ( like vine weevils or tent flap ) that may go to disease . Once , the compost is liberal from all debris , it is ready to be used again .
How many times can I reuse old compost?
It majorly reckon on your judgment . If you reckon your old compost can still be used , go onward . However , it is significant to pay near attention to the quality of the compost and soil . Compost loses its nutrients with time , so add together and using new compost is adept . finally , you will mark that your land needs to be rebuild to advance its social system and quality back .
In Summary
I hope that with this , you may make the most of your used compost and save fourth dimension , effort , and resource .
I am sure that at least one of these amazing ways of reprocess honest-to-god compost will rise to be helpful to you and will also impart economic value to your garden .
After all , horticulture is all about investing your metre and recycle resources to build and maintain a healthy surroundings where your crops can flourish in a respectable and eco - friendly fashion .
