Plan
When to feed your beds.
Compost wants to go down before you plant, not with it. How far before depends on where you are. Put your ZIP in and we’ll work out your zone, your typical frost windows, and how much you need for the bed you’ve got.
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How much will I need?
Bed size, and how deep you want it.
How much, by what you're growing
One bag = 1 cubic foot. 27 cubic feet = 1 cubic yard.
| What you're doing | Depth | Coverage | When |
|---|---|---|---|
New vegetable bed Work into the top 6 in of soil before planting. | 2–3 in | 5 sq ft / bag | 2–4 weeks before you plant |
Established bed, annual top-up Spread on the surface and lightly rake in. | 1 in | 12 sq ft / bag | Autumn, or early spring |
Raised bed, filling new Blend 25–30% compost with topsoil or a bed mix. Do not fill with compost alone. | — | see note | Any time |
Containers and pots Use Bloomin’ EZ potting soil instead — it is a growing medium. Compost is an amendment. | — | see note | Any time |
Around trees and shrubs Ring the drip line. Keep it off the trunk. | 1–2 in | 8 sq ft / bag | Autumn or spring |
Lawn top-dressing Spread thin and drag in with a rake or mat. Do not smother the grass. | ¼–½ in | 30 sq ft / bag | Growing season, after aeration |
New lawn or overseed Spread, then seed into it. | ½ in | 24 sq ft / bag | Early autumn in the Southeast |
Perennial and flower beds Top-dress between plants; it works in on its own. | 1–2 in | 8 sq ft / bag | Autumn |
Row crops, field scale Bulk, spread and incorporated. Request a rate for your acreage and soil test. | — | see note | Ahead of planting |
These are starting points, not prescriptions — the same rates any Extension service would give you for a finished compost. They come from ordinary horticultural practice, not from our lab report: that measures what lives in the material, not how much of it to spread.
Frost windows are typical for the zone, not a forecast for your address — elevation and a sheltered yard move them by weeks. Your county Extension office knows your dirt better than any website does.
Feed the soil early. The plant takes care of itself.