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Re: Too much compost?

Well, you're probably not hurting things, but you could be way past 
the point of diminishing returns. 

You're most likely adding more nitrogen than the plants can use, and
leaching some of it into the ground water.

I'm at a similar point  in my garden, though I'd been 
adding organic ammendments too. I did a soil test last year and 
discovered my magnesium and potash and phosphorous are all too high. 
Until then, I always though more was better.... but it turns out what 
you really want is balanced fertility. 

But, with just adding compost it's probably less of a problem for you.

Eric

> In the doctors office the other day I picked up an old copy of Organic
> Gardening Magazine.  The article I browsed thru went into a great deal
> of formulas and what not about the correct amount of compost to put on
> your garden depending on the type of soil you have.  The best I could
> figure I'm putting on about three times the amount they recommend for
> the worst types of soil.
> 
> My garden started out as a twice logged over forest that grew pretty
> poor fir trees.  Then the developer scrapped away most of the topsoil.
> I've sifted out all of the rocks (quite an undertaking in itself),
> built raised beds with permanent paths and worked at building up the
> soil.  Every spring I put a bunch of bags of composted steer manure
> and all of the compost I have on the beds and till it in before
> planting.  Depending on the year, I've put between eight and twelve
> inches of stuff on each bed.  The garden has been pretty productive
> and the earth worm population has soared.  
> 
> Now the question.  I've been doing this for seven years now and I
> wonder if I'm doing the garden a disservice by adding that much
> compost?
> 
> Thanks for any help you can provide.
> 
> Steve Russell 
> 
>
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