How To Use CQ Compost

compost queen fort collins food scrap compost

Every Spring, Compost Queen gives its customers free compost to use in their gardens and landscaping. We also offer compost for sale, which can be found here. Use this guide on how to apply and use your compost in different ways. Please remember that our compost is made exclusively from food scrap materials, and is much more nutrient dense than composts you can buy commercially. Please follow our giude so you do not over fertilize your plants!

If you are planning on using a large amount (10 lbs or more) in your garden or landscaping, you can apply in two different ways, depending on what time of year you are adding:

1) If you are adding before planting in the spring, add about 2-3″ of compost to the top of your soil and then turn it into your soil by digging about 6″ down to distribute. This is best for fresh beds that have not been planted yet.

2)  Add about 1″ of compost to the top of your soil around plant bases/in beds and water as needed. This is best for established plants that are already in the ground and you do not want to disrupt their roots. This also works great for trees, shrubs, bulbs, etc. This can be repeated once every 8-10 weeks or so. 

3) If you are applying compost in fall after the growing season, apply up to 5 inches on top of the soil, cover (with mulch, leaves, etc.), and leave for the winter. You may apply #1 instructions (from above) again in the spring to ensure your soil in nutrient dense for your spring planting season. 

If you are planning on using compost in your indoor plants:
 
1) Add about 1″ of compost to the top of the soil around plant base and water as usual. This can be repeated once every 12-16 weeks or so. Indoor plants do not get as disturbed by the elements, which is why you do not have to do it as often. 
 

REMEMBER:

-Since compost is a natural fertilizer, we do not recommend using any other type of fertilizer in the areas you use compost. You may use natural lime, coco coir, perlite, or other additives that are not a synthetic fertilizer.
 
-Do not only use compost when starting plants. Compost is too nutrient dense and can lead to plants not growing or even dying. Only apply after the plant is established (has a solid root base), OR use at a 10% rate of incorporation to your unamended soil.
 
-Always supplement your soil with compost and do not use compost alone. 10%-20% compost is the max we recommend when blending with top soil or garden soil.
 

-When too much compost is added to the soil, plants growing in the amended area fail to thrive. Plants often look stressed, stunted or burned growing in soil with too much compost. Please refrain from doing this!

Please contact us if you have any questions about using your compost. Following our guide above will help your plants stay happy and healthy!