And the correct answer is ?

I sincerely hope that my herds (and I do mean literal herds, big enough to saddle up and ride..) of earthworms do not hear you fancy folks talking about "unfinished" compost. I have irises growing quite happily in 75% recongnizeably-lumpy horse manure, and another bed of iris growing equally happy in 75% coffee grounds + 25% sawdust. Ditto thousands of bulbs, an entire rose garden, and the very nice looking pumpkins that colonized the compost-holding area this summer. Staff consists of a couple of middle aged ladies and some wild-eyed kids with rakes.

No weeds or diseases in coffee grounds and sawdust. I just throw coffee grounds on the beds, I don't bother composting them.

My present compost pile is in a raised bed that I will be planting in. I plan to add everything I can for the next month or so, keep it as hot as I can for as long as I can and then plant it with a green manuer crop until mid spring. Then I'll mix in just enough silt/sand to bulk it up a bit and plant in it ready or not!

I am counting on the worms to take over when the heat dies since it is a raised bed and will be well drained when the surrounding area is too wet for them during the rainy season.

From everything I know and everything I 'think' I know this should give me a bed filled with a good rich planting mix where partial shade loving plants that like an acidic soil will thrive.

Zanymuse, sounds great. What kind of cover crop are you planning on using?

It is a mix of legumes and common vetch that is sold at the feed stores. They are all supposed to be excellent for fixing nitrogen and other key minerals in the soil through their roots to make it available for other plants to absorb. I've never done this before so I am really playing it by ear, reading all the advice here and trying to apply common sense to it all.

Since my mix is primarily highly acidic redwood needles I thought the nitrogen would be needed for some of the plants I want to use later like hostas. The ferns, bleeding hearts, and pacific iris will all grow in forest duff so this mix should suit them fine with or without the extra nitrogen... But it shouldn't hurt them either... I think?

Legumes as in peas/beans? If you over seed with those you shouldn't need the vetch. Just use a "fixer" with the bean seed for the best germination. Your right, all those plants are pretty much acid lovers. The nitrogen won't hurt, but will encourage leaf growth. Once your plants are established, side dress with a fertilizer with a higher middle number. You want to encourage strong root growth, as well.

"....reading all the advice here and trying to apply common sense to it all..."

Hope it sticks, lol!

Zany, the only sidenote I would add to the cover crops is they will reseed like just about anything else unless you're turning them under (i.e. plowing) so make sure anything you plant is something you want to have for a while. IOWs, I wouldn't sow anything directly in my beds - but it depends on whether you're doing veggies or perennials, etc.

Doccat, I know you know.... but for anyone who might not, legumes come in a lot of different varieties - i.e. a lot of the Acacias (trees and bushes) down to peanuts and clover - also beneficial for attracting bees. I know that the ability of a plant to take up nitrogen via the roots is can be affected by the acidity levels of the surrounding soil - I don't know how much that varies from plant to plant.

With your pine, Zany, I'm betting your soil is fairly acidic. Have you had it tested?

Pagancat, I would prefer to have the same garden as you, that picture is beautiful I love foliage plants, flowers are nice but green and trees are prettier looks more natural :)

Zanymuse, I do the #4 but when I have time, right, I like to do the drilling of holes with an attachment I have for my drill and put compost in them by my plants if it's finished or not depends on when I'm in the mood or when I have time :)

Our soil is very acidic which is why I am choosing mostly plants that I know thrive here in the forrests and clearings. Most of them will be perrenials.

The legume seed is a mix they sell at the feed store and is premixed so I won't be trying to sort out the vetch. Plus, I believe as Pagancat mentioned, different plants attatch different nutrients so variety should help. Right now there is no soil in that bed to test. it is all compost in the making. The legumes will be planted on top of the composting material in a thin layer of top soil and their roots are supposed to reach down into the pile and do some sort of magic. LOL I sure hope I have this figured out right or I am going to end up starting this whole project over as a normal compost heap again and buying that top soil after all.

I am not too worried about the stuff reseeding since it will be easy to pull any sprout out and the bed is high enough that my back will not mind the work.

doccat5,

I have a attachment that will drill a hole about the size of a bulb planter it's pretty cool less work! Got it from home shopping channel lol But it works! I just go around drilling holes about 5" deep ann about 3" around then cover it with the soil that comes out of it.

That sounds like a fast way to get the nutrients down to the root zone in an existing bed! I may have to dig the drill out of the garage and turn it into a garden tool!

It's something like this but not quite you get the general idea :)

http://www.gardeners.com/MagicPlanter-Bulb-Auger/default/StandardCatalog.GardeningTools_LaborSaving.36-684.cpd

I must say I'm mystified by "legume seed is a mix". How interesting, what in it? As for side dressing, I guess I was thinking of heavier feeders, not enough coffee, sorry...LOL

The mixhas several different types of peas, chic peas, vetch and sweetpeas as well as nasturtiums. They mix it up every year for compost people according to the gal at the feedstore. It explains the huge manure mounds covered with green on some of the farms around here so I thought it was worth a try.

Oooooooo, that sounds neat! And I love nasturtiums, I've always got to have some tucked someplace in my garden. Great repellers of bad bugs! With kind of combo I doubt you'll need to side dress for a long time. I was thinking of new roses I plant. I usually go to a 0-10-0 fertilizer in the fall. I want to encourage them to throw down deep roots. Long term I get much better, bigger blooms, since they have a bigger more extensive root system.

I've been wondering about growing chick peas - DH is on a major hummus kick and the only stuff available is 40 minutes away in a restaurant, or 1.5 hours away at Costco. Hmmmm....

From what I can gather, the legumes and other root systems fix the nutrients in the soil or in this case compost so that it is available to other plants. It is also supposed to speed up the decomposition of the pile under the plantings on top.

The gal at the store said that when the heat in the top layer of the pile subsides to add a layer of soil to the top and plant the seeds directly onto the pile surface. The heat deeper in the pile is supposed to be uneffected and should actyally serve to help the seeds to grow. Hmmm I am experimenting so I may as well give it a go!

doc - what fertilizer are you using that is 0-10-0? I have had the hardest time finding anything in my area that does not have excessive Nitrogen levels.
I had previously purchased a 40# sack of what was called "orchardist's mix" for my little orchard. Can't find anyplace that sells it now.

I use osmocote 0-10-0 fertilizer. I usually get it at Lowe's locally.

Thanks much - I'm on my way there anyway & will look to see if this is in stock.