Forum home› The potting shed
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Old,spent potting compost.

madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,543
in The potting shed

This morning I have been emptying lots of my baskets and containers that had annuals etc in them.

After sifting the soil to get out old roots I then spread it over my lawn and brush it in.I try and do this just after a mow and hopefully a good bit of rain to wash it in.

Some soil had vine weevil but I am relying on birds to eat them,the same with ants and their eggs.

It means I don't have to buy top dressing and such for my lawn and there is not so much stuff for the bin men to take (we have to pay £1.30 for each bag of garden waste).

So what do you do with your old soil?

“Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
«1

Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505

    I tip it out as mulch but on another thread I found that you can use it for planting bulbs so long as you don't want to save them for next year.

     That's what I'll be doing as soon as the annual stuff has died off.

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • LoganLogan Posts: 2,532

    With the large containers,i keep the old compost and fill the bottom half with it and new compost on top.The rest goes on the garden. I'll put some of it in old compost bags for next year.image

  • pip31pip31 Posts: 2

    I have heavy clay soil so any spent compost always goes on the flowerbeds for the worms to work in. 

    Any compost is good to break up clay

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340

    I've been putting mine onto the borders for 30yrs. Soil is lovely, but the borders are about 18" higher than the lawn now

    It makes a good addition to the compost bin too

    Last edited: 25 September 2016 14:28:17


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,698

    I chuck the rootball on the veg patch to overwinter and break down, then it is used to improve the soil structure around the garden.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,146

    I tip it out on the veg patch to be worked in by the worms image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,543

    Nice to see everyone has uses for old soil!

    Does anyone else put it on their lawn like me?

    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
  • LesleyKLesleyK Posts: 4,029

    Not yet madpenguin but I just may try that on the few dips and bare patches that need repairingimage.  Normally I just use it as a mulch in the borders.

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384

    Spread mine on borders & veg plot like lots of others.  I think your idea of using it on the lawn is a good one too (except for me as I no longer have a lawn - converted into beds many years ago!)

    Last edited: 25 September 2016 15:11:52

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618

    I have emptied the tomato buckets today. The compost I am using for my bulb pots .

Sign In or Register to comment.