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Do I need compost in the garden?
Do I need compost in the garden? Is perhaps one of the most asked questions we receive. In this post, we will try to answer the question while also pointing out some pros and cons.
You need to decide if you want or need to spend a substantial amount of money spreading compost over the borders of your garden. While fresh compost looks nice and makes the garden look tidier, throwing it all over the borders is probably a waste of money and time. Surely it is better to add some mulch which looks more impressive, or manure to the borders to help improve the soil quality.
Hey fellow gardener, spread compost over the borders!
Did we hear someone telling you to spread compost over your borders?
They may be well-meaning, but they do not really understand gardening. Did they take a soil sample? Probably not. Never listen to people who tell you that your garden needs compost. They rarely know what they are talking about because they are probably not qualified to make such a statement.
If you are insistent about spreading expensive “soil” all over the borders, then look at spent mushroom compost. It is brilliant, looks great on the borders and has a fantastic structure. It also has the benefit of still having some mushrooms and the spores in the soil, resulting in some fresh mushrooms growing in your borders. That’s a win-win in our book.
The only time we recommend adding a little compost to the soil is when you are planting a new shrub, tree or perennial plant. While preparing the hole and the surrounding soil around the hole, mix in a little of the compost in the soil and also add some in the bottom of the planting hole. It is also advisable to mix a little bonemeal or a suitable slow release fertiliser in the soil, in and around the hole. This ensures whatever you are planting has a good start in life. Don’t forget to water the plant after planting 🙂