If you’re looking at the best time to put down compose then I must say it has to be fall. This is the best time for you to empty your compost bin topping the garden soil with black gold.
You can do it in early spring or even at end of season. If you have been composting for a while then you would know that compost takes its time to break down, this is definitely a benefit of adding compost to the soil because the nutrients are added to the soil slowly in comparison to the burst of nutrients that are short-lived and you would easily find them in your local chemical fertilizers that are water-soluble.
What I’m trying to say is that you do not have to stress about all the nutrition that you have applied in the fall being wasted until summer and spring. Personally, I prefer mid or late fall to apply my compost only because it is convenient. It is an excellent time for me to clean my bins and begin to start a new batch of all the falling leaves, grass clippings plants killed by frost, etc.
However, if you have been actively adding composting materials to the pile all through the season then I recommend that you avoid the compost materials that have partially decompost and adding them to the new pile.
As you keep digging through your compost bucket you would begin to see crumbly, black decompost compost, this is what you need to utilize for the vegetable gardens. I always spread at least one inch of my compost over my vegetable beds that are cleared out and allow nature to take its course. Many times, I have topped my compost with fallen leaves of at least an inch, wreck it and let it stay in that place.
Now, these are things that I have shared with you about what I do with my garden however; I’m confident that you will make a schedule of your own, of your garden and the growing season. All you need to remember is always maintain a soil that is healthy and this can be done with much ease. Adding a layer of compost, it must be at least three inches. Make sure to add it at least once in the year. Suppose you are utilizing compost that is homemade I recommend adding it early fall allowing it enough time to break down and work itself within the soil by spring.
Adding this layer during fall will also help you to reduce weeds but, if you are planning to use compost that is bagged, I recommend that you add it by early spring, few weeks before the planting season. This is only because it has been finally broken down. You can also use a bit less of it in comparison to the homemade compost, approximately 2 inches.
You may add compost all through the growing season especially if you are facing the following circumstances;
- Your location is warm all through the year then I recommend you add compose to the garden twice a year
- If the soil looks sandy, dense, or has plenty of clay
- Post-storm during summer, this will help you to restore the eroded soil
- When your plans are bearing flowers, fruits and vegetables it will boost the nutrients.
You follow these cares that I have shared with you and I’m sure you’re good to go. All the best!