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Buffalo, MN ([email protected])

Stopped in at the local compost center today and they will give me an unlimited supply of compost, they have it in four stages which stage would be the best? How deep should I spread it on the patch? FYI I need to haul but they will load.

Stage 1 this summer and fall leaves and grass clippings
Stage 2 last fall and spring leaves and grass clippings (pulverized) rather light and half decayed
Stage 3 last years leaves and grass clippings (pulverized) almost like black soil
Stage 4 stage 3 mixed with black soil

Also have access to aged manure how deep should I spread this on?

11/15/2007 1:11:04 PM

Wi

I don't think you should use any. Load it up and bring it over here. I'll find someone that can use it.

Seriously though why not use the finished stuff (best diversity of microbes)? Where's your OM at now Bill? Above 10%??? How high is your P&K in regards to adding poop?

11/15/2007 1:25:35 PM

Alex, IN

I like stage 3 Bill.

Mikkal

11/15/2007 2:21:37 PM

Ohio

I kinda like that stage 2 for fall prep Billy Boy!! Use stage 3 and 4 mixed for spring prep! Nice find there Bill!

11/15/2007 3:55:26 PM

Georgia

Man I wish there was a compost center near me like that. Good Find

11/15/2007 4:05:02 PM

Puyallup, WA

If it was me....I'd bring in four inches!

11/15/2007 4:33:53 PM

Minnesota

Hey Bill,
Do you need any help moving that stuff? I have a pickup and trailer that we could use to move it out to Hutch?

Joe

11/15/2007 5:14:43 PM

Ohio

Bill, I just thought of something, Id try to be sure you know where they get that stuff to make that compost, make sure its 2-4d(weed Killer) free , if thats possable. You can ruin your patch area for a long time from what I have read on the posts here, thats a nasty weed killer that remains in the soil for a long while.

11/15/2007 7:15:19 PM

Mn

Bill ineed that stuff!!!

Alx

11/15/2007 8:08:07 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

I'm with Brooks......stage two for this fall.

11/15/2007 9:49:45 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Bill throw some radish seeds in it before you apply it to your patch

11/15/2007 10:03:34 PM

Danville, CA ([email protected])

What is special about radish seeds? If they sprout it is ok? or ....

11/15/2007 11:08:31 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

if it has 2-4-D they will die and shrivel up

11/15/2007 11:50:38 PM

Another one to be mindful of is clopyralid. Very popular in lawn care businesses out this way, bad news for pumpkins. Sounds like Shannon may have a nice "quick & dirty" test if you are unsure of the cleanliness of the compost components. Good luck.

11/16/2007 2:25:21 AM

Jericho Vermont

Bill,
I would suggest asking alot of questions before getting any of the compost and also getting a sample tested. I get compost on a yearly basis from our Intervale project in Vermont. This is leaf compost as well as manures and dairy products. i always get a soil analysis before I spread it on the patch.
Typically I spread one inch a year on the patch of this nicely finished compost. In my opinion 1 inch of good finished compost is worth several inches of leaves or other unfinished manures we put on our patch. I don't want to leave anything to chance such as a hot garden for next years plants, we all put too much time and effort for that.
John

11/16/2007 6:29:04 AM

Wi

So why would you use the stage 2 compost when the finished product SHOULD have killed all pathogens / weed seeds etc? Both still could be viable enemies in the stage 2. I'm asking....not telling.

11/16/2007 9:12:17 AM

Montoursville, PA

I have similar choices at our leaf, grass and woody plant refuse site. I like the leaf piles that are black and somewhat decomposed. You should see our growers hitting those nice black piles.

We do not worry about possible hitch hikking lawn care chemicals. If they were of any major concern the piles we use would not have decayed in the first place. The percentage of chemicals hitch hiking is as small as the percentage of people who hire these services from lawn care firms. I would not take the new stuff given the choice just in case I might hit a hot spot from one of those lawns. Your eyes and nose can be the judge. Decomposition can not take place if a healthy good biological ballance is not present. That's why we like the steaming black stuff.

11/16/2007 1:05:58 PM

Rhode Island

test before using so you know exactly what your adding to your present soil test result
to me the older stuff is best. fall or spring

11/16/2007 3:07:00 PM