How Do You Use A Compost Pile?
Compost adds nutrients and organic matter to your soil. It does not involve burning plants, so it can be added to the soil any time. It is ready to use when it has a moist, crumbling texture with a nice earthy smell. Mix compost into flowerbeds or your garden soil before planting. Dig a mixture of half compost and half soil into the ground before planting trees and shrubs. Top-dress a lawn (see glossary) after the ground has dried in the spring. Side-dress your vegetables or plants (see glossary). Break up a couple of inches of soil around each plant and mix in some compost and water. Make compost tea for your houseplants. Fill an old pillowcase with compost, soak it in a bucket of water until the water is the color of tea, and give your houseplants a drink. Use compost around plants as a mulch to prevent weeds or to help keep moisture in the soil.
