How to Use a Compost Pile

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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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.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Compost Makers
Garden Trowels
Old Pillowcases
Plastic Bucket

Step1

Mix compost into flowerbeds or your garden soil before planting.

Step2

Dig a mixture of half compost and half soil into the ground before planting trees and shrubs.

Step3

Top-dress a lawn (see glossary) after the ground has dried in the spring.

Step4

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.

Step5

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.

Step6

Use compost around plants as a mulch to prevent weeds or to help keep moisture in the soil.

Tips & Warnings

When using compost as a potting soil for your houseplants, you need to sterilize the compost by cooking it in a 200-degree oven for 1 hour. Expect your home to have a strong earthy smell when the compost is baking.