We recently had to use the space where the compost heap was. The heap
was started at least four years ago and could have been much older than
that even, we had just added and added to it over the last three years
without using any of it. Anyhow we put most of the really old stuff
which was at the bottom of the heap on the garden.

The compost seemed like excellent stuff but I was wondering whether it
can actually be too old to do any good, or, older the better type of
thing. Does anyone have any thoughts on this please?

tom&barbara wrote:
We recently had to use the space where the compost heap was. The heap
was started at least four years ago and could have been much older
than that even, we had just added and added to it over the last three
years without using any of it. Anyhow we put most of the really
old stuff which was at the bottom of the heap on the garden.

The compost seemed like excellent stuff but I was wondering whether it
can actually be too old to do any good, or, older the better type of
thing. Does anyone have any thoughts on this please?

If it's free of weed seeds and roots, old is fine as a soil conditioner.

--
Mike.

Soils lose organic material-a light soil might lose most of its humus in 2
years.( I have the reference)
The compost is precious. In my own garden-(heavy soil) I would put it on
raspberries (aerated fibrous roots), strawberries, redcurrants. Also on
plants that like a well drained but moist location etc.
If there is any left over I would dig it in.
David T
"Mike Lyle" wrote in message
...
tom&barbara wrote:
We recently had to use the space where the compost heap was. The heap
was started at least four years ago and could have been much older
than that even, we had just added and added to it over the last three
years without using any of it. Anyhow we put most of the really
old stuff which was at the bottom of the heap on the garden.

The compost seemed like excellent stuff but I was wondering whether it
can actually be too old to do any good, or, older the better type of
thing. Does anyone have any thoughts on this please?

If it's free of weed seeds and roots, old is fine as a soil conditioner.

--
Mike.

"tom&barbara" wrote in message
oups.com...
We recently had to use the space where the compost heap was. The heap
was started at least four years ago and could have been much older than
that even, we had just added and added to it over the last three years
without using any of it. Anyhow we put most of the really old stuff
which was at the bottom of the heap on the garden.

The compost seemed like excellent stuff but I was wondering whether it
can actually be too old to do any good, or, older the better type of
thing. Does anyone have any thoughts on this please?

if it was exposed to rain some of the nutrients may have leached out of the
compost into the soil underneath (can't tell you how much per year, how much
in total, way beyond my knowledge base). That is why you hear people talking
about digging 20 cm (or whatever depth they choose it seems) down into the
soil the compost has been sitting on. This way you dig into compost leachate
enriched soil. Really old compost will be very much like soil anyway so will
be perfectly fine for the garden even if it has lost some nutrient. Digging
up the underlying soil will help capture some of the nutrient loss.

rob

"tom&barbara" wrote in message
oups.com...
We recently had to use the space where the compost heap was. The heap
was started at least four years ago and could have been much older than
that even, we had just added and added to it over the last three years
without using any of it. Anyhow we put most of the really old stuff
which was at the bottom of the heap on the garden.

The compost seemed like excellent stuff but I was wondering whether it
can actually be too old to do any good, or, older the better type of
thing. Does anyone have any thoughts on this please?

....

No matter how old it is, you'll still be getting all the benefits of
the organic matter - humus - which is a vital addition to the mineral,
sand etc, and clay particles which are the other main constituent of the
soil. Providing it's never dried out completely there should also still
be plenty of bacteria and other beneficial micro-organisms. Although maybe
not as many as when there was more fresh material for them to work on.
These are another essential element provided by compost. The fact that
you may have lost some nutrients through leaching is neither here nor
there IMO. As unlike organic matter and micro-organisms, this deficiency
can always be remedied by the use of the appropriate fertilisers
in any case.

If you find any brandlings in the compost as you fork through it, the
worms with dark red rings, you could save those and introduce them into
your new compost pile. They'll survive in soil, although not as well
as earthworms, but will do much better in a compost heap. Ideally with
something soft to get them going. Week-old banana skins etc.


michael adams

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