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  • To learn more about using compost, click here.
  • Dig compost in. If you are creating a new bed, spread 2 to 4 inches of compost over the soil and then dig it into the top 6 to 12 inches of the bed. If you are putting in individual plants, dig a hole that is as deep as the rootball and 3 times wider than it. Rough up the sides of the hole. Mix 1 part compost with 2 to 3 parts soil to backfill the hole after putting the plant in.
  • Topdress freely. Spread fully decomposed compost around new and existing plantings. Put it under trees and shrubs and in garden beds, but leave 6 to 12 inches uncovered at the base of every plant. Use a layer no more than 2 inches thick, to ensure that air and water can easily pass through. Replenish every 6 months to a year, as needed.
Content Title: 
What should I do with the finished compost?
Topic: 
Food Scraps and Yard Debris
Gardens and Landscapes
Compost, Mulch and Soil
FAQ Topic: 
Backyard Composting FAQ
FAQ Question: 
What should I do with the finished compost?
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