Autumn days in Australia are numbered, and with them the window for composting is slowly coming to a close. Compost consists of decomposed organic matter, rich in beneficial nutrients for plants, but that’s not all there is to it.
The benefits of compost are way too many. In short, it can amend soil, improve water retention, enhance aeration and even combat climate change! How cool is that?! Keep reading to learn more about how the magic happens, what compost is used for and how to use it in your garden.
It might seem slightly exaggerated, but in reality, compost has so many advantages that its nickname “Gardener’s Gold” doesn’t do it enough justice. Compost helps feed your plants and maintain a high level of beneficial bacteria in the soil with its structural, biological, and chemical benefits. Plus, it helps form humus – the adhesive that makes healthy soil stick together. To answer the question “What is compost used for?” here are the main benefits of compost, explained:
Obviously, there is a considerable number of composting benefits. Combined with other practices that improve your soil’s quality, you can use it to make all the neighbours praise your gardening skills.
First things first, premature compost is a bad idea. You will attract pests and damage your soil and plants. But when is it ready to use? What does finished compost look like? There are a few things to check before you add it to your garden:
Now that you know how many benefits composting brings to the table, and how to tell if it’s ready – it’s time to learn more about when and how to use compost.
The first thing gardeners wonder about is when to use compost – the best time is during the autumn. Your soil will have enough time to saturate with nutrients and prepare for planting in the spring. You should aim to reinforce your garden with compost once or twice a year. If your compost isn’t ready by autumn, you can save it and add it to your new or existing garden in the early spring days.
There are various ways to use compost, depending on the type of garden you have, the kind of plants you want to grow, and the result you want. Here are a few common ways people use compost, tried and tested by the Fantastic gardeners.
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Vegetable gardens have a single essential purpose: to raise thick and juicy edible plants for the gardener. If you want to achieve that, your veggies need a lot of nitrogen. Here’s how to use compost for vegetables:
You can spread compost and dig it into the soil for raised garden beds, but the effort is optional. It’s good enough to simply sprinkle it along the surface and let the seasonal rains carry the nutrients all the way to the roots.
The best approach with shrubs and trees is to work 2-3cm of compost into the top 5-6cm of the soil beneath. With trees, you should cover the entire area from the trunk to the dripline.
You can also use it as mulch around your trees and shrubs to make them more drought-resistant and prevent weeds. Your mulch layer should be at least 3cm but no more than 10cm and shouldn’t touch your tree or shrub’s bark.
When planting trees, don’t add compost to their planting holes since this will obstruct the tree roots when they try to grow beyond the hole.
If you wonder how to use compost for flowers, it’s best to wait until spring to mix it into the topsoil. If you insist on adding it in the autumn, you can use compost as mulch to help your plants stay warm during the winter and retain their moisture.
Compost can be implemented into the soil base before you seed your lawn for better results. Add a 7-8cm layer on top before seeding, and watch your lawn thrive. While it isn’t necessary, you can also take it a step further and till the compost to a depth of 15-20cm.
Another thing you can use it for is getting rid of bald spots on existing turf. Mix a 2-3cm layer with the top 4-5cm of soil wherever your lawn has bald spots to help it cover them.
Last but not least, you can spread a 2-3cm finely-screened compost across your entire lawn and rake it evenly to use several of its benefits at once – prevent weeds, protect from pests, cover bald spots etc.
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Did you enjoy the guide to using compost? Which one of its benefits is your favourite?
Let us know in the comments section below!
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