How to Lay Compost
- 1). Remove grass from the area in which you plan to lay the compost. Grass or sod will prevent the compost material from reaching the soil effectively.
- 2). Mix the compost with the soil you plan to use for planting flowers. Instead of applying the compost to a small hole that will hold your desired plant, apply the compost to the entire gardening area. Apply a 1-inch layer of compost to each 100 square feet of planting area for clay soils, and till a 3-inch layer of compost into each 100 square feet of planting area for sandy soils. Mix the compost to a depth of 10 to 12 inches.
To add compost to an existing garden, till 2 to 4 inches of compost into the top 10 inches of your garden soil, and apply 1/2 inch to 1 inch of compost on top of the soil. - 3). Place an inch of compost around your trees, laying the compost a foot away from each trunk and going to an area past the drip line -- or the area under a tree's farthest-reaching branches. Putting the compost in this area once a year is necessary because a tree's roots stretch this far out. Apply a 2-inch layer around shrubs once a year.
To prepare soil for new shrubs, use a tiller to till the soil to 8 to 10 inches deep, making sure the depth is at least two times the width of the root ball of your plant. Then place a 4- to 6-inch-layer of compost, and mix it in the soil. - 4). Add compost to any soil in which you want to grow grass, mixing it to a depth of 6 to 12 inches. Add a 1-inch layer of compost per 100 square feet of planting area for clay soils, and add a 1 1/2-inch layer per 100 square feet of planting area for sandy soils when planning a new lawn.
- 5). Apply compost once a year in a layer that is 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick on an established lawn. Water the lawn well.
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