Re-use your old compost
ARE you staring at lots of pots, tubs and growing bags that are devoid of their crops but still full of compost? It seems a waste to throw it away, doesn’t it? In these resource-conscious times, there’s no need to send the contents to landfill. You should aim to recycle it, instead (the only caveat is if it contains soil pests or diseases, in which case, please don’t reuse it).
Compost that’s had crops growing in it all year will be devoid of nutrients, so let’s add these back. A basic balanced granular fertiliser like Growmore will suit the vast majority of crops; add 30g per wheelbarrow full and fork it in well. Old compost often becomes powdery and dry – this can make it difficult to get wet again. Douse it with a hosepipe, turn it, douse it again, then leave it for a day and repeat until remoistened. This compost can then be used for potting up autumn plantings, or added to beds and borders.