23 hours ago, Eatmywords said:
Thank you! And is the straw to protect the soil?
I just started composting using a double barrel system. One of them is full and ready. Do I sprinkle some around each plant and when, given the plants are less than a 1'? thank you
Straw in the fall, in my experience, keeps late weeds down as well as keeping the topsoil fairly loose and easier to till the next year. Plus, as @chromedome notes, it adds extra organic matter to the soil the next spring (is fairly well broken down by then, as we have fairly warm, wet winters).
Compost -- I usually add a couple of bags to each of my raised beds in the spring and till it in. You may not have that much, and the good alternative method is to dig a deeper hole, as @TicTac suggests, and put it in the hole. I tend to put about a cup, cup and a half under a seedling, then mix with loose soil in the hole, and plant.
If you're planting seeds, same deal. I prefer to mix my compost with a little garden dirt.
