Can you ruin your compost?

Whether you make your own compost or buy it in bags, it’s almost impossible for it to spoil. Once compost is in the soil, it will break down just fine, and cause no harm to your plants.

Can you overdo compost?

A: Yes, it’s possible to overdo it with compost — but not likely. The main problem would be excess nutrients that can have varying effects on plants, depending on the species and which nutrients are excessive in comparison to others.

How long is homemade compost good for?

You can store compost indefinitely, but the longer it’s stored the more nutrients it loses. Compost is at its best for three to four months after it is completed.

Can I plant directly into compost?

Compost is one of the best garden amendments available. You can plant in straight compost, but I suggest incorporating it into your sandy garden soil or mixing it with other additives if you want to use it for container plantings.

What happens if you use compost too early?

The immature compost will continue breaking down, and the plants will compete for nitrogen during the growing season and may stunt the plants’ growth. This will not be a problem during the fall and winter seasons as most plants are no longer growing.

Should I replace compost in pots every year?

ANSWER: Experts recommend refreshing compost in potted plants on a schedule ranging from every six months (once in the spring and once in the fall) to every year or two.

Do I need to mix compost with soil?

You can mix compost with topsoil to create your own potting compost, as many of the nurseries do, which gives you the advantages of soil – namely that it dries out more slowly and holds its structure better – together with the benefits of compost – organic matter and more nutrients, a compost made with loam or soil is …

How do you know your compost is working?

You will know when your compost is working when there’s no bad smell and there are so many worms in it that you can almost hear them. Compost that’s working well, will shrink in the compost bin, leaving plenty of room for more organic waste.

Should compost be tilled in?

Compost is a rich soil amendment that is made from the process of organic matter breaking down. The most important thing to remember when using compost is that compost is a soil amendment, not a soil itself. Plan on tilling compost in with the first few inches of your existing soil.

Why is my compost not breaking down?

Dry material that is not breaking down in the compost bin is is an indication that there may be insufficient soft green waste such as vegetable peelings and grass mowings. Mix the green waste in well with the other material in the bin, watering the mixture as necessary.

How do you heat up a compost pile?

How to Make Compost Piles Heat Up Faster. Sprinkle 1 inch of healthy garden soil between the layers in the pile. The soil contains microorganisms that speed the natural decomposition of the pile. Add 1 cup of a high nitrogen 36-0-0 fertilizer blend for every 8-inch layer of material to further speed heating.

Is your compost tumbler too wet?

If the compost pile in a tumbler is too wet or too dry, it is not going to heat up. Too little air and too much water can lead to wet compost. To dry it, you need to take it out of the tumbler and spread it out on the newspapers. Not enough water and too much brown material can cause compost to dry out.

What can go in the compost bin?

Composting sends less trash to the curb and to the landfill, while producing a soil amendment that helps your garden thrive. Kitchen scraps, yard clippings and shredded paper can all go into the compost bin. Whether you should include fruits in your bin, particularly citrus fruits, depends on the type of composting that you do.