The Best Techniques for Reusing Old Compost in Your Vegetable Garden

[@simplifygardening]

Want to go in-depth on composting? Check out my book Composting Masterclass. www.amazon.com/Tony-ONeill/e/B09Z79VFRB/ref=aufs_dp_fta_dsk

[@davidisaacson9328]

I use 32 gallon trash cans/w lids, to store my finished compost. Whatever is left over from the current seasons use...I throw back into my 'active' compost tumblers. Some years, I have a full garbage can of 'finished' untouched/left over compost. I just wait until starting a new active pile the next season...and re-incorporate back into that tumbler. Works great for me! Thank you for your valuable input here! Cheers!🍺

[@NelsonHelgHelgNgatupuna]

this is just amazing ,you are very talented and blessed, thanks for this ! keep it up, you are awesome!

[@geanvincentalmendras1559]

I love the ‘WHOvian’ reference “Dalek style bins” 😂

[@richardponsford5147]

Criminally underated channel.

[@Ed19601]

I never throw away compost. Its biomatter. I throw it in my chicken coop and use next year. Chickens pick out any weed or pest

[@simplifygardening]

Perfect way to treat it Ed

[@heidimisfeldt5685]

Smart way to do it.

[@NoxiousGrenade]

I like this method a lot! Do you still use straw for bedding and just mix it in or just the spent compost as the bedding?

[@Ed19601]

@@NoxiousGrenade no straw at all. Just soil that ii add compost and leaves to. The chickens mix that up perfectly. They remove weeds and especially love any snail eggs that might have been left. After it has been in there for say a year i dig it out and throw in new used compost. I do not even have to go through it to remove roots; chickens do that for me and in fact those largely decay.. I may mix in some new compost from my compost heap

[@13bm90]

Ed19601 Thanks for the awesome tip!

[@lizzieatherfold2293]

Great to see you back on form! Excellent advice

[@simplifygardening]

Thanks Lizzie, its nice this is the third video since being back and I am not getting used to making content again

[@Brian-fc6ov]

thanks Tony

[@downundervlogs]

Great information to expand this and use my worms castings to rejuvenate my existing compost.

[@jasons-jungle]

Speaking of making your own compost there's times when I have masses of greens (nitrogen) but little browns (carbon). Spent compost if low in nitrogen but high in carbon so I add this to the pile as a brown when I add grass clippings and garden waste/weeds. The pile gets hot and that will kill off pathogens, pests and eggs.

[@simplifygardening]

Yes thats why I added it as number four to the list. its a great way to reuse it

[@GladiatorReid]

Great tip Jason. What colour is seaweed on list? Brown or green

[@jasons-jungle]

@@GladiatorReid I don't useseaweed but it is most likely a green, as it's an algae

[@LM-wz9yw]

@@GladiatorReid green, though it better fits the activator clarification

[@davidisaacson9328]

​@@GladiatorReidGreen-nitrogen

[@nadinehope230]

You are so generous with your info! Thanks. I am only a second-year gardener and am in the process of expanding my garden a little more each year. Last year I had about 10 cloth pot this year I added 4 raised beds. Next year still deciding on what to add, I have a pretty big yard. I would love to see a video on what equipment you use like shovels & pots you know the basics for beginners and a tour around explain what you have and why you choose to do it that way. Maybe something like I wish I knew before I got started kind of video, so I can selfishly learn from your mistakes. LOL. Seriously I really appriecate everything you share on your channel. :)

[@simplifygardening]

Nadine that video is already planned for later in Autumn so stay tuned

[@peteacher52]

Very helpful. You have a gentle and expressive voice that makes for easy listening. Col, NZ

[@simplifygardening]

Glad it was helpful!

[@gailthornbury291]

I did an experiment this year and used pure sieved Leafmould with blood fish and bone and potato fertilizer in one potato pot and bought compost with the same fertilizer in another pot. Same good yield in both pots, possibly a bit better in the leafmould. Luckily I have a lot of aged leafmould about. After use ive layered it with comfrey leaves and I’ll reuse it for something next year - maybe even potatoes again. Nothing to lose as it’s basically free.

[@simplifygardening]

Leaf mould is great Gail. I make tons of it every year and still have a bit of last years left. I have a couple of videos coming on it this year but already have 3 on the channel

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

I don't know anybody anywhere in the history of gardening that would ever throw away compost!

[@simplifygardeninglivestrea8083]

So many ppl do, just read through the comments

[@gaycha6589]

I have done out of ignorance cos someone in pub told me it would be spent after one use

[@Lazydaisy646]

I agree 100%

[@shanlynwebb]

Haha me neither sounds nuts!

[@Nobodyreallyatall]

Even if you think it is worthless, you could always spread it out on the lawn.

[@johncameron6853]

Thank you Tony, another great vid. Always look forward to the next one👍😎

[@prubroughton2327]

We here in NZ would call it spent potting mix and I rejuvenate my used mix every year. I never have any compost to reuse it has all gone on my out door gardens. I add sieved aged hen bedding, blood and bone, rock dust minerals and rotted forest mulch and a heap of worms - my containers become mini worm farms. I reuse in the soft grow pouches I grow my tomatoes indoors in this and works very well

[@simplifygardening]

Yes Spent potting mix is the same things. Glad to here you reuse it

[@mustafabrennpaste6521]

We used "fast composter" (NPK fertilizer + useful bacteria/fungal cultures) on a complete new compost filled with shredded wood and its still wet/fresh leafs. We made around 1000 Litres of compost in 7 months without ever touching it. We only added some water from time to time. When we got it out of the composter it was all turned to fine compost/soil, smelled like the Woods after a soft rain and was full with life.

[@InspirationSessions]

Thanks - appreciated how clear this was

[@johntrehy227]

Thank you for the advice against throwing away soil and compost. Hopefully most gardeners are sensible and wouldn’t be so wasteful. Or so we would like to believe.

[@simplifygardening]

I was surprised just how many people do dispose of it

[@carolynsteele5116]

Very great episode, and just in time. I was just contemplating what to do with the spent potting soil and what to use to refill the pots. I’ve not heard of “nutrient lock” by overuse of fertilizer.

[@simplifygardening]

That's a great idea!

[@brightonduder]

I bloody love your videos - I’ve watched many of them 2 or 3 times. Glad you’re back and well, mate! Keep em coming!

[@simplifygardening]

Im glad your enjoying the content. I really appreciate you taking time out of your day to view it :)

[@micheals1992]

We reused a grow bag this year due to covid, the roots of the old tomato plants had been left in and I'm guessing they had rotted in. The tomato plants have done better then ever this year!

[@simplifygardening]

Awesome and shows there is no need to keep buying them

[@micheals1992]

@@simplifygardening to be honest I'm very tempted to either remove or cut a hole the plastic tarping on the floor of the greenhouse and just grow with compost on top of the actual soil, at least then the plants would never become root bound and they would have the ability to seek water and neutrients for themselves. Less maintenance and healthier plants.

[@simplifygardening]

@@micheals1992 I have no plastic or membrane in my greenhouse or tunnel im directly in the soil and compost on top

[@budj13]

Great video, Tony. I have been gardening in raised beds for 20 years and I don't throw my soil away after each season, so why would anyone throw out their used compost. Your list of ways to rejuvenate the compost are solid and similar to what we do with a raised bed. I just sent my soil to a lab for detailed analysis and it is very high in nutrients and organic content. Take care of the soil/compost and you will have healthy crops. By the way, I recycle potting mix for seed starting by putting it in large aluminum foil baking pans and putting it in my pellet grill until it the soil gets up to 90C and that sterilizes it for another use. Of course that is only practical on a smaller scale, but I only use a few cubic feet of seed mix a year.

[@simplifygardening]

It baffled me but I had messages from ppl who was putting it out in the green waste for the council to collect

[@SuzyTopAgent]

We now have a few compost bins which doubles as worm farms 🤣. We grab a hand shovel full of the nutrient rich soil and worms then transplant throughout our garden pots. Thanks so much for your awesome tips Tony, so glad I came across your channel a couple years ago!

[@simplifygardening]

Suzy its great having you here and talking to you. Your garden is stunning

[@SuzyTopAgent]

@@simplifygardening 😊 because of your tips, keeps getting better and better 👍

[@marjoriejohnson6535]

Used compost goes into my worm farm along with veg/ fruit scraps , coffee grounds ,ground egg shells, and some " new" cardboard.

[@simplifygardening]

Perfect Marjorie

[@I_Stack_Metal]

Recently I read some places that manufacture cardboard can use glues and chemicals in their cardboard. I don't risk it anymore and just recycle it.

[@simplifygardening]

@@I_Stack_Metal Yes but since 2018 they are all natural and no chemicals are used mate. it was a bid to cut down on pollution

[@blinkspacestudio8892]

Just on my 2nd year of planting and noticed a BUNCH of compost to use again. I saved it and will mix it with some new mix I got this year. I am making my own on the side and will start mixing all these together to save waste. All food scraps go into the bin. Its amazing to think back to the 80's when no one reused potatoe peels or kitchen scraps for compost. It was thrown into a black plastic bag.

[@ClausenWorld]

I’ve been reusing mine for years, exactly like you mention. I just stared incorporating worm castings 3 years ago. Great video!😊🌱♻️

[@simplifygardening]

Thats brilliant. worm castings are a great addition

[@ClausenWorld]

Simplify Gardening 😊🌱♻️

[@simplifygardening]

@@ClausenWorld :)

[@keshatton2334]

I also do that, when i start a new bin i add a few handfulls to each level. The worms do the job.

[@michaelmcclafferty3346]

Good to see you back Tony. As always , your videos are great.

[@simplifygardening]

Cheers Michael appreciate the support

[@TheBushdoctor68]

Great video! Almost nobody discusses this. I always keep a pile of old compost next to the fresh one, to be mixed in as Browns when needed...

[@simplifygardening]

Excellent way to use it

[@aimebouch]

i used leaf and grass compost that was piled up for 20 years, i used no soil and got the best garden i ever had, huge tomatoes, jalepeno, beans, and potatoes and have always reused it

[@simplifygardening]

Yes that would be awesome growing medium

[@skinnyWHITEgoyim]

Can you imagine being lucky enough to have a neighbor like Tony???

[@simplifygardening]

:) I'm no different to any other gardener who wants to grow a good garden

[@Dick-Dastardly]

I like Tony's videos

[@simplifygardening]

Thanks. Appreciate it :)

[@allotmental.]

I've reused the same compost in large pots for growing overwintering potatoes and never add nutrients to it, I let the rain do it! Think I'm on my third year with the same compost :-)

[@simplifygardening]

Thats great. i always refeed as it makes the difference to the yield

[@joannesherwood3562]

This is the precise information I need this week!!! Cheers Tony! 👍

[@simplifygardening]

Perfect timing then Joanne :) glad its right for you

[@michaelboom7704]

I am surprised how many people throw soil away,I take it either let the worms have a few months with it or maybe add it with the hot compost I try having on the go. Soil is never wasted by me,

[@simplifygardening]

Thats great and it shouldnt be Michael

[@heidimisfeldt5685]

People waste, due to ignorance. They just have not learned any better way.

[@michaelboom7704]

@@heidimisfeldt5685 yes they need to be around those that understand better.

[@kellymorgan4783]

I have to admit it never occurred to me that anyone would throw it away :)

[@simplifygardening]

@@kellymorgan4783 Nor me until I started getting the question should I just throw it away. I was so shocked and believe it or not i have been asked this over 50 times this year, Hence the video

[@theresakelly1915]

Wish I saw this last year when you taught me how to grow potatoes! Don’t know how I missed this one!

[@simplifygardening]

Well you got it for this year now

[@MyFamilyGarden]

Really good tips Tony, I never throw away used compost it either ends up as top dressing for the garden beds or added to my finished compost to use again next year

[@simplifygardening]

Perfect Mothin :)

[@luvlysgardeninghaven4797]

I always buy compost and use it only once. Thank you for this video. From now on I'll be reusing it. Happy me x

[@exeterbeekeeper]

This year I have been adding leaf mould to pre used brought soil based compost when reusing it

[@exeterbeekeeper]

It has worked very well!

[@cristiewentz8586]

My buckets of potato compost now have carrots and kale growing. When cold weather comes, I'll use that soil to finish the bokashi compost I'm giving myself for Christmas.

[@judyjones6306]

Thank you! I learn how to reused compos

[@simplifygardening]

You are so welcome!

[@kat7777]

I've reused compost many times and broke up roots like you say but when I replant, I feed the plant with tomato food or whichever one is appro9and it seems to rejuvenate the compost 👍

[@simplifygardening]

Perfect Kat

[@victorgoncalves2442]

Nice to see you back to your normal , stay safe and healthy .

[@simplifygardening]

Cheers Victor. its nice to be feeling myself again

[@deborahhall5610]

I shared your video on the potatoes you grew when you were unwell with my Dad....we were talking about it yesterday and he had said that it must be expensive to buy all that compost 😂 he'll be getting this one sent to him now 😉 thank you for the fab videos as always and glad to see you feeling better.

[@simplifygardening]

That is awesome! but all the compost i used this year came from home made compost

[@numberyanbitch]

Ive just stumbled across this channel recently, and its amazing, thanks for all the great videos 👍

[@peteraston4753]

I put my used compost in my wormery along with food scraps to make new compost

[@simplifygardening]

Id need a skip of worms lol Ib already have large wormery but they couldnt deal with this lot

[@edwinthompson6510]

O,M'G,,,,Tony for sure you should be UK's Gardener's World presenter on kidding you are more informative than the guy named Monty Don,,, all your videos are a joy to watch .. thanks Tony Ed,,,, Sierra Vista AZ,,,,,,,,,USA

[@simplifygardening]

Thank you so much Edwin. I am so happy you are enjoying my videos so much. It is exactly why I make them

[@lesleymeyrick1851]

@Happy Dace Absolutely agree with you, Tony is the best? We should start a petition! ...

[@UKscrapper]

Great advice and tips I've kept all my compost to reuse mixed with gores manure thanks for sharing Tony

[@simplifygardening]

Great stuff Paul. Thats the way to save it mate

[@SeanInAlaska]

This answered a great deal of questions I had when I saw you using the compost in the buckets, the cost per bucket of potatoes just dropped drastically! I almost burst out laughing when you said "Old Dalek style bins" hahahahahahaa....my mind immediately said "Exterminate" over and over again! hahahahaha. I am glad I subscribed! I will most likely try your potato method here in Alaska next spring!

[@simplifygardening]

Sean there are many in Alaska using this method now with great results. let me know how you get on with it and welcome tot he channel

[@Selam975]

Hey Toney, I am glad to see you back! Thanks for a wonderful tips, I will definitely follow these step.

[@simplifygardening]

Thats great Helena. I am glad you enjoyed the video

[@GladiatorReid]

Thanks Tony I've been waiting couple weeks for this as can't find the answer anywhere for used potato soil.

[@simplifygardening]

Glad to help now you have your answer

[@wes9451]

Expensive... really depends. My neighbors toss out broken trellises, fencing, and flower pots like crazy. I have more written off plants growing happily than you could imagine. A little DIW to fix the trellises and put a few odds and ends together and honestly you can do everything for free by the end of your second year.

[@simplifygardening]

Oh wow! Wes you sound like a real gardener )

[@patriciafianu4707]

First time seeing your video and i like it ❤

[@rockinroller59]

Am glad to see jon pertwee(worzel gummidge) managed to join you in this presentation!

[@holliecrawford882]

Brilliant video, explained it so simple too a slow unnn! Great job 👏🏻 .. just starting and it’s brilliant too hear it from someone just up the road🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿👌🏼🌱👏🏻

[@simplifygardening]

Glad it was helpful!

[@simplifygardening]

where are you from Hollie

[@amygriffith3598]

Thank you for this link, Tony. This answered my questions.

[@simplifygardening]

Perfect Amy glad it helped

[@myprophet1]

I have grown potatos in raked up piles of horse manure. Best potatos ever. Next yr I needvto add to raised beds. I will be using the contents of the cows rumens after butchering. Left in pasture for a few months then raked up!

[@interabang]

Great video Tony I'm a total novice and had been thinking about my used soil. I'm wondering if I broke it up and threw it in a composter and just threw in kitchen waste would that rejuvenate it ?.

[@Krystina1958]

I have been totally converted to growing my spuds in containers by yourself and two years ago I reused the compost and revitalised it like you suggest. However, last year I had a lot of scab problems, which probably wasn't helped by irregular watering. Would you say the compost that had the scab potatoes in is now only good for chucking away? Always great videos 👍🏻

[@simplifygardening]

Yes the scab was down to the drying out of the medium they grew in

[@anniecochrane3359]

Appreciate your gardening channel - great tips based on real experience. Authentic!!!

[@simplifygardening]

Thanks, Annie. I'm glad that's exactly how it comes across as it is real :)

[@kimiyemlsmallgardendream8115]

Perfect timing for fall planting!

[@simplifygardening]

It certainly is kimiye :)

[@marich91]

The soil from my old pots always ends up in my compost pile at the end of the season and if watered enough I fint them to blend in easily and efficiently :)

[@simplifygardening]

Great its nice to see you reusing it

[@johncopse9663]

Thanks again tony for a very informative video. Hope you and your family are well and keeping safe.

[@simplifygardening]

Thanks John. Glad you got value from the video 😀👍

[@paulahughes2616]

Fantastic information. I’m new to growing anything. Besides garden weeds until earlier in lockdown. & I think I’ve court the gardening bug. Fresh air an home grown produce are on the menu. Not succeeding at much this year ! I won’t give up just try an try again. Watching your channel an a few other’s is helping in the right direction & making me even more determined to keep going. Many thanks 😊.

[@simplifygardening]

Paula, Next year is going to be your year especially with that can do attitude. Jst follow along and we will make sure you have the info you need:) Its perfect now you have all winter to watch videos and really get yourself up to speed for a perfect start in early Spring

[@ericaslittlewelshgarden]

Great video Tony.

[@simplifygardening]

Glad you enjoyed it Erica :)

[@hughes1601]

Another fine video with lots of info' for me to use, cheers. Tommy

[@simplifygardening]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@lindsayheyes925]

Hey Tony, sound advice. I can't wait to lay my hands on your book. Q. I "rain" the leaves of the exotics in my glasshouse to keep Thrips manageable, but clear the dropped leaves to compost. Should I do otherwise? FYI, I use Amblyseius for Thrips, Encarsia for Whitefly and Phytoseiulus for Red Spider Mite - but natural pest control has predator/prey population cycles of remission and resurgence. I don't use artificial pesticides.

[@sarahodonnell6957]

Wow I’ve just been buying it forever. I only used spent compost to top dress the garden. Brilliant news for me Thank You 🙏💙❤️💜

[@simplifygardening]

Don't waste such a valuable resource Sarah :)

[@gillessellier1451]

hi great video, my spent compost goes through the compost bins or the worms bins. good as new when it comes out

[@simplifygardening]

Perfect Gilles :)

[@Goludan]

Epic sauce! Is what I am going to make next year with hopefully rocky ford melons strawberries and the dreaded REAPER PEPPER. Thanks so much for the tips on reusing my good soil and bringing nutrients back to the plants. Love you mate, my best to you and yours from here in North Texas!

[@simplifygardening]

Cheers Kyle. I am glad you are enjoying the content

[@rachelmiller9511]

I was just wondering what to do with my used container soils. I’m going to stir up a hot compost this weekend and plan to add my used soils/compost to it and when it is done store it for winter. Will adding it to a hot compost kill any possible pathogens if I can get it up to 160 degrees F? Great video BTW, and very timely!

[@simplifygardening]

Thats a great way to use it Rachel. Im glad you enjoyed the video

[@fatbap]

@Rachel Miller Yes, 160f is enough to kill any soil pathogens that ive ever heard of, as well as any weed seeds, provided you can keep it there for a day or two.

[@keeleygriffith9201]

Thanks for this informative video! Novice gardener here, so I still have a question about this. I have a container that had potatoes in it last year, and I didn't do this rejuvination at the end of the year to the leftover compost. Now, it's already potato planting time, so can I add the additional nutrients that you mentioned (manure and blood, fish and bone) and then go right ahead and plant my potatoes in that same compost container (the manure would be store bought, so not fresh)? Does that give the compost enough time? I had always read never to plant potatoes in the same soil/compost twice, but after amending it, is it ok to reuse for potatoes two seasons in a row? Thanks so much in advance!

[@AfonbachDesigns]

Great advice Thankyou , going to reuse the felt containers I grew tomatoes in for my Xmas potatoes now.

[@simplifygardening]

That is perfect Andrea. Keep them working for you :)

[@Mummabear543]

I chuck it back on the borders 😀

[@simplifygardening]

Yes Zoe perfect way to reuse it

[@MrLewooz]

I make a Mix : Old compost, dead leaves from last year, content of the compost heap ( loads of earth worms) and off we go.... the year after???? same thing!

[@wobblybobengland]

Great video, seems such a shame that some people throw stuff away in the autumn.I have container potatoes too, the second harvest will be ready in October. I use two compost bins, one like you as a storage pile and the other as a new compost. The autumn fall goes into the second bin, bit of vermicompost to give the red wrigglers a head start, and then layer it all up with coffee grounds and our food scraps interlayered with the potato/ grow bag tomato waste from the first bin being added to it periodically, I add rock dust and some organic nitrogen rich fertilizer which isn't store bought (if you know what I mean) and a bit of sulphur if I am to use it for potatoes, third year now of doing this, potatoes are scab free and plentiful.

[@simplifygardening]

Exactly it's perfect doing that and reusing it

[@garyz2043]

Gardening shouldn't be expensive. I'm very cheap and get a wealth from my garden.A lot of produce from hardly any outlay. Saved seed and compost,seaweed gathering, local free manure,tons of grass clippings and veg waste.It's all good and all goes through the bio system again. Happy Gardener Dayz!

[@simplifygardening]

Perfect and exactly how it should be Gary

[@vickyrainbow]

brilliant video and information - thanks

[@johnglennon4245]

Just what I needed watch. Thanks

[@simplifygardening]

Awesome John. Glad you found value in it

[@denisemiller8620]

Great tips to rejuvenate compost 👍🏻👍🏻

[@simplifygardening]

Glad it was of interest Denise

[@simplifygardening]

If you would like to learn all the fundamentals of making effective nutrient-dense compost at home, then this is the video you need to watch next. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pGLGh3aheMuqn5I

[@poeticmic6219]

I found your channel through this vid and subscribed. I'm a 34 year old bloke that's starting his first allotment plot and this video is bang on mate. Thank you

[@stevendowden2579]

interesting video well done tony

[@simplifygardening]

Cheers Steven

[@skinnyWHITEgoyim]

You can use alfalfa pellets also to add nutrients and organic matter back into soul mix. Just place the pellets in a bucket and pour water over them. They'll swell up and rehydrate making it easier to mix in thoroughly.

[@simplifygardening]

YEs its a great additive

[@briansgardenandpolytunnel8172]

it makes sense to re-use compost, tony. only buying the odd bag is fairly cheap ( depending on the brand ) but over the season we can spend quite a lot of money............................brian

[@simplifygardening]

Yes Brian Its not cheap so reusing it is key

[@chinatownboy3368]

I use it to cover food scraps in the work bin. The worms will process everything to castings.

[@simplifygardening]

A great use

[@sarahsiskin6780]

I use fresh compost in potatoes and other plants in pots but I toss all my spent compost into my massive flower beds. Potato compost goes into a certain section of a big compost pile and invariably potatoes grow there each year. I can’t chase all of those little ones. We are in the US, at the New Jersey shore. East coast

[@simplifygardening]

Great tip! Its is exactly what I do Sarah

[@MsDragonwitch]

Love the Doctor Who reference. 😊😊

[@simplifygardening]

Glad you picked up on it :)

[@frankscales7295]

TOP of the class Tony

[@simplifygardening]

Cheers Frank, Glad you enjoyed it

[@patrickmeehan6221]

That's very valuable information, Thanks for sharingTony

[@simplifygardening]

Glad it was helpful Patrick

[@dnmurphy48]

Very helpful thanks

[@yurikhakhnazarian7664]

Thank you very much it was very useful.

[@thelittlefarmersfarm5706]

Another great tutorial Tony... Well in mate. I'm adding mine to the raised beds to bulk fill them up... enriched and revitalised of course mate... Keep Growing Wit Yed Down Mucker!!

[@simplifygardening]

Great stuff Tony. Hope all is good with you and your staying safe mucka

[@davidwormleighton2839]

Great advice Tony cheers mate, stay safe David 👍👍

[@simplifygardening]

Thanks 👍 David you guys stay safe too

[@darkmagic5727]

Educational video thanks 😊

[@simplifygardening]

😀

[@sheilabroster7970]

I never throw away my old compost I sieve it bag it up then mix it with coir and perlite then it's ready for sowing seeds and cuttings.

[@robertmather2814]

How much Blood, Fish and Bone do you add to each 35l potato bucket? This will give me an idea of what quantity to add to the mix. Many thanks.

[@motormusic1]

My soil is absolutely matted with fine roots from (I think) the hedging... what can I do, I don’t really want to dig it all out and start again

[@A_Bvgzi]

I guess if you're nervous about pest in the compost and want/need to use it for a seed starter mix you could bake some in the oven maybe spray some water on it from time to time to avoid a fire or freeze it for a couple of days and kill everything in there.

[@simplifygardening]

Yes you could do that for seed starter mix

[@2smallplots]

Alright Tony, I like what you’re saying here

[@simplifygardening]

Great to hear Kim

[@keithbrown6990]

Yeah nice 👍🎄

[@simplifygardening]

thanks