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Last Year's Pot Compost - Reusable?

g.kingg.king Posts: 46
in Problem solving
I have a lot of pots / containers with compost from last years planting - what can I do with with?
Would it be ok to refuse all or part per pot as long as I add slow release feed granules?

It would seem a waste to get rid of it and then the expense of buying new compost to fill all the pots. I do have a darlek compost bin, so will have some home made compost.

Posts

  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    You could blend some of the old compost with your homemade compost to create a better growing medium.  Personally, I'd use the old compost as a mulch on borders to retain moisture and deter weeds.  It really depends on how many pots you have and what you intend to grow.  Some plants like dahlias and cannas are greedy feeders and would fare better with fresh compost.  Other plants like some herbs, including lavender, prefer impoverished soil, with little nutrient content, so last year's compost would be fine for them as long as there's no sign of disease, pests or weed/moss invasion.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    Yes I agree, old compost could have vine weevil grubs cream in colour with reddish head if you find these I would not reuse. Otherwise fine don't waste any of it.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    I like to dump it in a wheelbarrow, mix it with slow release fertilizer, and then mix in a bag of fresh potting compost.  If I know I only have the same amount or less pots to fill, the really root filled soil ones go out on the raised beds.  
    Utah, USA.
  • Butterfly66Butterfly66 Posts: 970
    I always reuse mine. If there are vine weevils, I spread it on an old compost bag and let the birds “clean” it for me. Previously I’ve done the same as @Blue Onion, this year I’m trying to buy as little fresh as possible so have mixed it just with our own garden compost.
     If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”—Marcus Tullius Cicero
    East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It won't have any nutrition so it needs that added to it. Home made compost is the same - it's a soil conditioner so needs food, but you can certainly use that.
    I do as @Butterfly66 re any grubs.
    I mainly use spent compost as a mulch though, and start afresh for pots and containers.

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    I turn out old compost into a spare bag (I turn the bag inside out to show the difference). Keep it for around 6 months for any roots to rot down. When using I mix roughly 50:50 with fresh, plus extra feed, depending on what I am growing.  Sometimes I turn them out onto beds and borders. 
    AB Still learning

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