old compost

[rosyposy]

What does everyone do with the old compost from their pots please? Do you use it as a mulch, mix it with garden soil to plant in it, put it in the compost bin or mix it with new compost to reuse in pots. I don't expect it will be the latter, but I would be interested in anyones' suggestions. TIA Rosy

[carlton23]

I throw mine on the lawn and rake it in. Always use fresh compost in pots for fear of disease.

[muff13]

I usually keep some of the compost to use in the bottom of pots but the rest I use around the garden. When planting out bedding plants I put some in the planting hole mixed with the soil or I use it in my polytunnel when planting out vegetables.

[danchip]

i always reuse my compost for growing seeds, a wise old guy once told me old compost as nutrients and other organisms in it to help the plants which new compost doesnt have

[katerich48]

Danchip...If as you were told, old compost has nutrients and other organisms which are good for plants why do we bother to get new compost.. and why are we told to each spring to scrap off the top layer of compost off our pots and replace with new..I have read that you shoulod keep the soil that you have been growing tomatoes in because of the tomato feed thats in it.

[rosyposy]

Thank you all for your replies. I think I will hoe it into the soil as I just have a tiny lawn, I guess the soil will enrich it eventually. I too like to use fresh compost in pots just in case the old contaminates the new. Thanks again Rosy.