How to Use Compost in Your Lawn and Garden

A powerful tool for any garden, compost must be used correctly to reap all of its benefits. You can spread it as a topdressing to enhance your lawn, mix it into the soil as an amendment, or use it as mulch to suppress weeds. 

Compost enriches your soil with vital nutrients, promoting healthier plant growth while reducing the need for chemical fertilizers. It also improves soil structure, helping retain moisture during dry spells and preventing erosion during heavy rains. This guide will help you understand how to use compost effectively, how much you need, and the best times to apply it so your soil and plants thrive. 

What is compost?

Compost is a nutrient-rich, dark, and crumbly material made from decomposed organic matter like food scraps, leaves, and grass clippings. It’s often called “black gold” because of its benefits for soil and plants. Compost enriches your lawn and garden and can be used as mulch, soil amendment, and topdressing.

Soil erosion and nutrient loss make it harder for plants to grow, leading to an overuse of synthetic fertilizers that can wash into waterways and cause pollution. Compost restores nutrients, improves soil structure, conserves water, and reduces the need for fertilizers, making it a natural and eco-friendly solution.

If you need help spreading or incorporating compost into your lawn, a local Lawn Love gardening pro can get the job done for you.

Read our complete guide: What is Compost?

How to use compost on your lawn

When compost is ready, it should be dark, crumbly, and smell earthy. You shouldn’t be able to recognize any of the original scraps. I always check by rubbing a handful between my fingers. Compost should be mixed into your soil before seeding or laying sod to improve soil structure.

Compost also serves as a topdressing or mulch, helping to keep your lawn healthy by retaining moisture and gradually releasing nutrients. I usually apply a thin layer after aeration to encourage my grass to grow thicker and stronger. Below are my suggestions for incorporating compost into your lawn.

Soil amendment

How often: 2 to 4 weeks before seeding or sodding Best for: New lawns, poor soil conditions, improving soil structure

Before seeding a new lawn or installing sod, mix compost into your soil to give your grass a strong, healthy foundation. You can seed or lay sod immediately after incorporating compost into the soil. However, for best results, wait 2 to 4 weeks. This timing allows the compost to integrate with your soil and begin breaking down, creating ideal growing conditions for new grass roots.

My tip: My soil was mostly clay, and water pooled on the surface. Mixing compost improved drainage and made it easier for my new grass roots to take hold. If you have sandy soil, compost will help it retain moisture and nutrients.  

How to do it:

1. Spread 2 to 4 inches of compost over the area. You can use a shovel or a compost spreader.
2. Mix your compost into the top 6 to 9 inches of your soil. You can use a garden fork, spade, or a rototiller.
3. Level the soil with a rake to create an even surface. 
4. Water the area lightly to help settle the compost into place. 

Read more about grass seed and sod in our guides: Grass Seed vs. Sod and How to Care for New Sod.

Topdressing  

How often: 2 to 3 times per year, generally in early spring, early summer, and/or fall Best for: Established lawns, poor soil conditions

Topdressing is an easy way to improve your soil without disturbing your grass. A thin layer of compost adds nutrients, enhances soil structure, and helps retain moisture, leading to a healthier lawn. 

For the best results, the University of Missouri Extension recommends using screened compost, which has been sifted to remove large chunks leaving only fine particles. This allows nutrients to reach your soil easily and prevents clumps from smothering your grass.

How to do it:

1. Use a garden shovel or a compost spreader to distribute compost over your lawn evenly. Aim for a layer no more than 1/4-inch thick.
2. Rake it lightly so it settles between the blades of grass. 
3. Water your lawn thoroughly every day for 2 to 3 days to help the compost integrate into your soil. 

Read more: Topdressing a Lawn: How to Do It and Its Benefits

After aeration

How often: After aeration (every 1 to 4 years, depending on your soil compaction) Best for: Compacted soils, poor soil conditions

Aerating your lawn helps loosen compacted soil, allowing air, water, and nutrients to reach your lawn’s roots. To get the most out of aeration, spread a thin layer of compost over your lawn right after aerating. The compost will fall into the newly created holes, delivering organic matter directly to the root zone.

If you’re aerating a small area, you can do it yourself with the right tools, but for larger lawns, it’s often worth calling a local aeration specialist with the proper equipment to get the job done quickly and effectively.

How to do it: 

1. First, you need to aerate your lawn. For compacted soil, core aeration is the best method since it pulls out small plugs of soil, allowing air, water, and nutrients to reach the roots more directly.
2. Rake up the soil plugs left behind so they don’t interfere with compost settling into the aeration holes. 
3. Use a garden shovel or a compost spreader to distribute a thin layer — no more than ¼ inch — of compost across your lawn. If you’re like me and struggle to sprinkle things evenly, a compost spreader is the best option.
4. Water your lawn well for the next 2 to 3 days to help the compost settle. 

Read more about aeration:

• Liquid Aeration vs. Core Aeration: What’s the Difference?
• How Much Does Lawn Aeration Cost in 2025?
• How to Fix Compacted Soil
• What Causes Compacted Soil?

Compost tea

How often: Every 2 to 4 weeks Best for: Boosting soil microbes, improving plant health, and providing a quick nutrient boost

Compost tea is a great way to give your lawn a quick nutrient boost. Instead of spreading solid compost, you will spray a liquid directly onto your grass, allowing beneficial microbes and nutrients to soak into the soil faster. 

The best time to apply compost tea is early morning when the sun isn’t too intense. Never apply it during the hottest part of the day, otherwise you risk the chance of burning your grass. Additionally, use compost tea within a week or two of making it. The mixture doesn’t store well. 

My tip: Use an aquarium pump during brewing to keep the mixture oxygenated to help grow beneficial microbes. This prevents bad bacteria and helps beneficial microbes multiply. 

How to do it:

1. Mix 1 part compost with 5 parts water in a bucket.
2. Stir occasionally to keep the mixture oxygenated. 
3. Let it steep for 1 to 3 days, stirring occasionally. 
4. At the end of the third day, strain out the solids and pour the liquid into a pump sprayer.
5. Spray it evenly across your lawn. 

Read more: What Can And Cannot Be Composted?

How to use compost in gardens and flower beds

Compost is a valuable addition to any garden. According to horticulture specialist David Trinklein from the University of Missouri Extension, “compost can be mixed into the soil when planting trees, shrubs, annuals, or perennials. It also works well as mulch or topdressing around flowers and vegetables helping retain moisture and suppress weeds.”

Let’s look deeper at how to use compost in your garden and flower beds.

Soil amendment

How often: At the start of the growing season and as needed when refreshing garden beds Best for: Improving soil structure, boosting plant health, and increasing moisture retention

Compost is perfect for improving the soil in your garden beds, whether you’re preparing a new bed or refreshing an existing one. It boosts soil structure, retains moisture, and provides nutrients for flowers and vegetables.

My tip: Wherever I plant flowers or vegetables, I add compost directly into each hole before placing the plant in it. This gives their roots a nutrient boost right from the start. 

How to do it:

1. Prepare the area by clearing weeds or debris from your garden bed.
2. Before planting, spread a 3- to 4-inch layer of compost over the area and mix it into the top 6 to 9 inches of soil. 
3. Once the compost is mixed in, plant your flowers or vegetables.
4. Water thoroughly to help the compost settle.

Read more: 13 Easy DIY Raised Garden Bed Ideas

Mulch 

How often: Every few weeks as needed Best for: Retaining moisture, suppressing weeds, and slowly feeding plants

Compost serves as an excellent natural mulch for flowers, vegetables, and landscape plants. It keeps your soil cool, retains moisture, suppresses weeds, and gradually releases nutrients to your plants. 

My tip: To keep my compost mulch looking good, I refresh the layer every few weeks as it breaks down faster than other organic mulches like bark or straw. 

How to do it:

1. Remove weeds and loosen the soil slightly to help your compost settle.
2. Spread a thin layer (about 2 to 3 inches) around plants, making sure to leave a little space around the stems to prevent rot. Be careful not to go too deep — as “too much compost can block moisture and limit oxygen flow to the soil,” warns the New York Botanical Garden. 
3. Water lightly.

Topdressing

How often: Early spring, mid-season, or after heavy feeding periods Best for: Boosting plant health, improving soil structure, increasing beneficial microbial activity

Topdressing isn’t just for lawns, it’s also great to boost flowers, vegetables, and other garden plants during the growing season. Unlike deeper soil amendments, topdressing feeds plants gradually without disturbing their roots. 

My tip: If your compost contains large chunks, screen it first to create a finer texture that blends more easily with your soil. 

How to do it:

1. Simply sprinkle about 1 inch of compost around established plants, being careful not to pile it against stems. 
2. Water thoroughly to help nutrients soak into the soil. Apply 1 inch of water — typically 15 to 30 minutes — with a sprinkler or until the top few inches feel moist.

Compost tea

How often: Every 2 to 4 weeks during the growing season Best for: Boosting plant growth, improving soil health, and preventing fungal diseases

Compost tea nourishes plants and protects them from disease. You can water your garden and flower beds with it to feed beneficial microbes or spray it on leaves to help prevent fungal diseases. For the compost tea recipe, check the lawn section above. The dilution ratio remains the same for garden use, so follow the same guidelines when preparing it.

My tip: My favorite time to apply compost tea is in the early morning to avoid the hot sun, which can dry it out quickly. Use a garden bottle sprayer to make the application more precise. 

How to do it:

1. Fill a watering can or pump sprayer with compost tea.
2. For soil application, pour around the base of plants, making sure the soil absorbs the liquid. For foliar application, use a sprayer to lightly mist the leaves. 
3. Repeat every 2 to 4 weeks during the growing season for best results. 

Read more: How to Keep Pests Out of Your Compost Pile

How much compost do you need?

Determining the right amount of compost for your garden project is essential for healthy plant growth and avoiding waste. The amount of compost you need depends on how you’re using it:

• Planting holes: Just add a handful of compost per hole.
• Compost tea: Use as much compost as needed for the batch you’re making.
• Topdressing a lawn or garden bed: You’ll need to do a calculation to help you get the right amount.

As a rule of thumb, 1 cubic yard of compost covers 324 square feet at 1 inch deep.

To calculate how much compost you need, use this formula:

Square footage of area x desired depth (in inches) ÷ 324 = Cubic yards of compost needed. 

Let’s say you want to topdress a 900 square feet yard with 1 inch of compost: 900 x 1 ÷ 324 = 2.78 cubic yards of compost needed. Since compost is usually sold by cubic yard, you’d round up and order 3 cubic yards to ensure you have enough. 

For smaller projects, compost is also sold in bags typically containing 1 to 2 cubic feet (about 0.04 to 0.07 cubic yards), which is more manageable for container gardens or small garden beds.

My tip: Keep in mind that compost will settle by approximately 25 to 30% over time, so you may want to apply it slightly deeper than your target finished depth to account for this natural compaction.

Read more: How to Compost Weeds

When to apply compost

The best times to add compost to your garden and lawn are in fall and spring, ideally when air temperatures are between 50 and 75 degrees. According to the University of Missouri Extension, these seasons give compost plenty of time to enrich your soil when plants need it most.

Fall application allows nutrients to break down slowly over winter, improving soil structure before the next growing season. Spring application provides an immediate nutrient boost as plants enter their active growth phase. 

However, compost can be applied year-round as long as the ground isn’t frozen. You can topdress your lawn with a thin layer of compost anytime to boost nutrients and improve soil health.

Compost is particularly effective after certain lawn care activities. Apply it after aerating to help the soil absorb nutrients more efficiently and to fill aeration holes with beneficial organic matter. When overseeding, a light layer of compost provides an ideal environment for seed germination and encourages strong initial growth of new grass.

My tip: Apply compost in the evening before a light rain is expected for best results. The rain helps work nutrients into the soil, while evening application prevents nitrogen loss from sun exposure. Avoid application before heavy downpours or during hot midday hours.

Read more: How to Prepare Your Lawn for Aeration and Overseeding

Tips for applying compost 

Applying compost correctly ensures your lawn or garden receives the maximum benefits. Here are some straightforward tips to help you do it well:

Test your soil before compost application: A soil test tells you the current nutrient levels and whether you need compost or other soil amendments. Testing prevents nutrient imbalances and helps you target specific soil deficiencies, saving you money and preventing environmental issues. 

Aerate before topdressing: If your soil is compacted, use a core aerator to pull out small plugs of soil before spreading compost. This helps nutrients reach the roots and improves the state of your soil by adding organic matter.  

Choose the right time: Apply compost in early spring or fall when temperatures are mild and plants are actively growing. Avoid applying compost during extreme heat or freezing conditions.

Apply a thin layer: For lawns, spread no more than ¼ to ½ inch of compost across the surface. A thin layer prevents smothering the grass while still enriching the soil and improving moisture retention. Use a compost spreader to distribute it evenly. Instead of applying a thick layer all at once, multiple light applications over time are more effective. 

Water lightly after application: After spreading compost, lightly water your lawn or garden. This helps the compost settle into the soil and accelerates the integration process.

Mow before application: Mow your grass at the lowest recommended height for your lawn type before applying compost. Shorter grass allows the compost to reach the soil more effectively, rather than getting trapped in tall blades.

Combine with overseeding: If your lawn has bare patches, mix grass seed with compost before spreading to boost germination.  

Clear your lawn: Before applying compost, remove any leaves, sticks, or other debris. This ensures an even application and helps the compost make better contact with the soil.

Have the right tools for the job: Using the right tools makes applying compost easier and more effective. For topdressing, use a compost spreader or shovel to help distribute compost. As a soil amendment, use a rake, garden fork, or tiller. For compost tea, use a watering can or a pump sprayer.

Read more: The Basics of Backyard Composting 

FAQ about compost

Find a lawn care professional near you

After applying compost, you’ll see the difference, your grass will grow greener and thicker. But with this great growth comes a lot of work. A healthy lawn needs regular care, from mowing to fertilizing and cleanups. If you need help keeping it in good shape, Lawnlove can connect you with a lawn care professional near you.

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