Your beds, containers and borders will look amazing when your plants are thriving, but when the time comes to replace them, you will be left with a lot of old compost that lacks the nutrients to be helpful. As a general rule, when compost is old, then it's considered useless and spent. That is not precisely the case, though, as much of what gardening is about is making use of everything available at your fingertips. Throwing away old compost increases your carbon footprint and is also wasteful, as it can still be utilised. 

Make Mulch

Mulch can be a great way of minimising weed growth, improving your soil's moisture content and enhancing its structure. You can use the old compost as mulch on your vegetable and flower beds. It retains water, so it keeps your soil moist. Using old compost not only ensures your plants are getting a slow-release feed but will cost you far less than it would otherwise. You should put a thin layer of old compost on the soil's surface and around your plants. Cover up any spaces between the plants, as this is where the weeds are more likely to try to take root. The rest is up to the worms, as they will do their magic. They will help mix the compost with the existing soil, and you won't need to do any of the work yourself. Do some weeding first, then mulch, so the soil will get all the nutrients and moisture it needs.

Boost Your Lawn

Sometimes your grass can look worn out and yellowing. You can use old compost to boost its seed germination, sow your grass seeds according to packet instructions and move on to the next step. Sieve a light layer of compost on top, then water it well. Garden soil tends to struggle to keep moisture in, but with the help of compost, you can see it soaking up. Adding compost after spreading some grass seeds will pack in the moisture, allowing the seeds to grow much faster and easier. Make sure you're using your old compost for this, as anything too dense in nutrients will have the opposite effect.

Grow Root Vegetables

As a whole, old compost should not be used when you're trying to grow vegetables, as it lacks the nutrients to support a good crop. Vegetables need nutrient-rich soil to thrive and grow, so old compost is a no-no. Even though it doesn't have a lot of nutrients, old compost is still useful as it accommodates hummus and perlite, which are good for root vegetables.

Carrots tend to need less nutrition and grow better without stuffing their soil full of it. Sowing carrot seeds in nutrient-rich soil tends to create greater carrot tops and smaller carrots, so if you want good carrots, use your old compost instead. The same goes for beetroot and any slow-sprouting seeds.

Revitalise Your Compost Heap

If you're wondering how you can regenerate your old compost, you can add it to your existing compost heap. Old compost is excellent for the stinkier compost heaps, those who lack nutrients and those you still need to start. If you're planning on starting a compost heap from nothing, you should mix up some brown materials rich in carbon alongside green, nitrogen-rich biomass, then throw in the old compost. Used compost has bacteria capable of speeding up the breakdown of your green or brown organic material. Since it retains a lot of moisture, it can nourish your compost heap.

©Local Gardeners