Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Compost. It’s one of the most valuable resources a gardener has - but are we using it in the right way during winter?
In this video, I share what happened when I stopped mulching my beds with compost and started following what nature shows us every autumn: protecting soil with leaves, plant matter and other natural materials.
For over a decade, I mulched my garden beds with compost every autumn because that was the common advice here in the UK. But after years of observation, research, and a lot of questioning, I realised something important: compost isn’t the best winter mulch , and it may actually be wasted during the cold, wet months when nothing is growing.
Pre-order my latest book How to Grow Food: geni.us/HowToGrowFood
A collection (not extensive) list of sources:
Sharpley, A.N., & Moyer, B. 2000. “Phosphorus forms in manure and compost and their release during simulated rainfall.” Journal of Environmental Quality 29(5): 1462–1469.
García-Albacete, M. et al. (2014). Risk of Leaching in Soils Amended by Compost and Digestate from Municipal Solid Waste
Plant and Soil: Six et al. 2004 - Living roots are essential for aggregate formation; compost additions are more structurally beneficial during active root growth.
New Phytologist: Rillig & Mummey 2006 - Roots and fungal hyphae physically stabilise soil aggregates; compost improves structure more when roots are present.
Agronomy Journal: Villarreal et al. 2016 - In-season compost applications improve nutrient availability and yields; winter applications are least effective.
HortScience: Agehara & Warncke 2005 - Compost applied during active crop growth increases nutrient uptake compared to pre-season applications.
Cornell University (Soil Ecology Laboratory): Lehman et al. 2021 - Leaf litter mulch increased fungal network activity and microbial biomass through winter compared with bare soil or compost-treated soil.
Soil Biology & Biochemistry: Bray et al. 2012 - Decaying leaf litter maintains microbial respiration and nutrient cycling during cold periods.
Compost. It’s one of the most valuable resources a gardener has - but are we using it in the right way during winter?
In this video, I share what happened when I stopped mulching my beds with compost and started following what nature shows us every autumn: protecting soil with leaves, plant matter and other natural materials.
For over a decade, I mulched my garden beds with compost every autumn because that was the common advice here in the UK. But after years of observation, research, and a lot of questioning, I realised something important: compost isn’t the best winter mulch , and it may actually be wasted during the cold, wet months when nothing is growing.
Pre-order my latest book How to Grow Food: geni.us/HowToGrowFood
A collection (not extensive) list of sources:
Sharpley, A.N., & Moyer, B. 2000. “Phosphorus forms in manure and compost and their release during simulated rainfall.” Journal of Environmental Quality 29(5): 1462–1469.
García-Albacete, M. et al. (2014). Risk of Leaching in Soils Amended by Compost and Digestate from Municipal Solid Waste
Plant and Soil: Six et al. 2004 - Living roots are essential for aggregate formation; compost additions are more structurally beneficial during active root growth.
New Phytologist: Rillig & Mummey 2006 - Roots and fungal hyphae physically stabilise soil aggregates; compost improves structure more when roots are present.
Agronomy Journal: Villarreal et al. 2016 - In-season compost applications improve nutrient availability and yields; winter applications are least effective.
HortScience: Agehara & Warncke 2005 - Compost applied during active crop growth increases nutrient uptake compared to pre-season applications.
Cornell University (Soil Ecology Laboratory): Lehman et al. 2021 - Leaf litter mulch increased fungal network activity and microbial biomass through winter compared with bare soil or compost-treated soil.
Soil Biology & Biochemistry: Bray et al. 2012 - Decaying leaf litter maintains microbial respiration and nutrient cycling during cold periods.
