health
Gardeners urged to avoid throwing away any leftover compost in August
It's coming towards the end of the gardening season for many, but people have been urged to stop throwing away leftover compost. While it may seem natural to want to clear up outdoors, and try and make some space in the garden, it's actually a good idea to keep your compost.
TL;DR
- Do not throw away last year's compost; it can be reused.
- Refresh old compost by mixing it with fertilizer, fresh compost, or manure.
- Reusing compost saves money, reduces waste, and improves soil structure.
- Spent compost acts as a soil conditioner, aerating heavy soils and improving water retention in sandy soils.
- Old compost can be used as a winter mulch or top dressing to suppress weeds and retain moisture.
- August is an ideal time to refresh compost for autumn crops or to let it mature.
- Compost in tubs and containers should be changed every one to two years, or immediately if disease was present in the previous plant.