Compost or Mulch?

CatherineSenior · August 2020

This may seem like a silly question but, as a newbie, I hope you will be kind to me. I have a large pile of well rotted lawn cuttings; how can I incorporate this into my garden as I have heavy clay - as a mulch or a compost? Also, can I use it in the potting up of plants?

Fairygirl · August 2020

Not a silly question at all

If they're well rotted, you could probably use it perfectly well as a mulch, but if it isn't fully rotted, it's better to mix up and let it rot down further - either in a compost bin/heap, or just on it's own. If you can even mix some brown material in there - cardboard/newspaper, dried foliage, it'll rot down into a better product, as it will become more like home made compost

Lawn clippings can tend to be slimy, and form a big soggy lump on their own, but mixed with other stuff to loosen them, and they can be excellent.

I wouldn't use it for potting up anything though, unless you can get it to the 'compost like' stage. It's better as a mulch.

steephill · August 2020

I would use it as mulch, it will gradually disappear during the winter. I wouldn't try it as a potting medium though.

Hostafan1 · August 2020

"compost" you make in the garden is an ideal soil conditioner. "
Potting "compost" you buy in the garden centre is a growing medium.
It's unfortunate that they've been given the same name as it leads to no end of confusion.

PurpleRose · August 2020

Hi and welcome to the forum @CatherineSenior

Sorry to jump in here. Is there a best time of year to mulch so it gives the most benefit?

Thanks 😁

Posy · August 2020

You can mulch at any time the soil is moist but not wet. In spring it can protect against drying out, in autumn it can protect against cold.

PurpleRose · August 2020

Thank you @Posy

I always pop some in once I have dug the hole to put a plant in as we have heavy clay soil and it helps around the roots. I also always mulch around my plants and shrubs in spring. I have a lot still so I will have a go at mulching in the autumn.

Fairygirl · August 2020

Just to clarify @PurpleRose - a mulch goes on top, not in the hole with the plants. If it's just compost, that's fine, but you wouldn't use other mulches in the planting hole

Unless I've misunderstood your post - quite possible!

As @Hostafan1 says - the two composts we use in gardens are different in terms of nutritional value, but both can be used for planting and mulching. Home made stuff is mainly used as a conditioner/mulch as it doesn't have the nutrition needed for growing plants or potting them on. In big pots, a mix of both is usually fine.

PurpleRose · August 2020

@Fairygirl it's the compost I make in my compost bin

Fairygirl · August 2020

That's absolutely fine @PurpleRose - I wasn't sure

Stephanie newish gardener · August 2020

I use our garden compost to plant things in pots sometimes, so maybe I shouldn't. I tend to use it for cuttings or seeds, on the basis that seeds don't want something highly nutritious initially.

I also used it to provide the next layer on a no-dig bed and then I sowed parsnips and beetroot in it, plus planted a courgette. The parsnips are racing away, the beetroot are a bit hit and miss but are old seeds, and the courgette is doing ok. There are also various rogue tomatoes and carrots popping up, so I guess the compost didn't quite get as hot as it might whilst it was cooking last year!

Compost or Mulch?

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