What is Unfinished Compost?

During the composting process, organic matter is broken down gradually until it takes on the texture and appearance of soil.

Utilizing unfinished compost means using it before it has fully transformed into something soil-like. It may still be chunky or have larger clumps, and food scraps may still be recognizable.

While compost is not typically used before it's done, unfinished compost does have it's uses...

Unfinished compost very chunky rough held in hand not ready for use yet needs more time
This unfinished compost is still too chunky, wet, and active to be safely used for seedlings. It makes a great mulch at this stage, though!

What Does It Look Like?

unfinished compost chunky inspected by hand in tote
Unfinished compost can be chunky and very active, but is full of nutrients

How Do I Know If My Compost Is Ready?

If you'd like to wait until your compost is fully finished before you use it, check out our guide on How to Cure Compost.

Can You Use Unfinished Compost?

Although finished compost is the gold standard (especially if you're using it in your own seed-starting mix), there are just as many uses for unfinished compost.

You just can't really use them for the same things.

Using Unfinished Compost

As Mulch

Since unfinished compost can be so chunky, it makes an incredible mulch if you have enough of it. Layer it on thick to help suppress weeds, lock in moisture, and continue to compost in place.

As Top-Dressing

While mulch is typically applied thicker and not worked in, top-dressing involves adding a thinner layer of material on top of the soil and then working it in lightly.

For Compost Tea

Though unfinished compost may be a little too nutrient-rich for seedlings to tolerate, it makes for an incredible compost tea.

This powerful brew is exactly the kind of liquid fertilizer gold that will completely transform your garden.

compost tea in a quart mason jar held in hand for garden biology
The good stuff.

Check out our guide to Brewing Compost Tea



Problems With Unfinished Compost

Nutrient Burn

Unfinished compost can be too "hot" for a lot of plants. This term refers to the abundance of nutrients and propensity towards burning plant roots and seedlings, rather than temperature.

compost tea should be diluted with up to 10 parts water for every 1 part tea.

Curing your compost until it's fully finished will help it chill out a little, but remember it should still be diluted and used in small amounts where tender plants might burn from nutrient toxicity.

Weed Seeds

Use a compost thermometer to monitor the temperature of your compost and make sure it reaches a high enough temperature to render weed seeds inocuous.

Acidity

Lastly, unfinished compost can be too acidic.

which can lower the pH of your soil. Put a clump of it in a neutral-pH water (distilled water from the store has a neutral 7.0 pH), mix, and test the pH with your pH meter to verify the acidity is not too much. Most veggies like a pH around 6.5

Allow your compost to cure before using it in your garden.

Consider tossing a bit of lime or wood ash in your compost if you're having acidity problems, these may help balance out the pH.

Final Thoughts...

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