Using Free Compost

My local council allows us to have as much free compost as we want.
They collect all the recycled green materials ... compost it down and you can collect.

It is Black and very well rotted, masses of worms.. which all seems good news.
It is obviously not as fine or sieved like bagged compost ...

I have today added 4" of this over the ground, and will mix it in well with my Mantis ...
The Q is as this is not rotted farmyard manure it's nutrient quality is probably not high ... but it will certainly improve the soil, which is quite heavy & poor.
Should I think of adding anything with it to improve its nutrients (or minerals)

I could simply sprinkle Fish, Blood & Bone over the surface before getting to work with Mantis.

 

Sounds good to me,
Some people dont like the council compost, but then I think often the word compost can get confusing and people start comparing it with potting compost.

As a soil conditioner it must be good as it's all organic material composted at high temperature.
You are very lucky to get it for free, my council expect you to buy it.

 

Organic matter like this should only be thought of as a " soil conditioner" not as a fertiliser, as the amounts nutrients can vary so much.

Consider any nutrient content as a bonus not as a fact

Yes but not now!

By the time you get around to planting out any added fertiliser you apply now will have probably leeched out by the time you get around to planting out!

Save your fertiliser till planting out time, and then you will get the maximum benefit from it!

 

My council doesn't even offer it: free or for purchase!

 

May be a good reason for that ... for example: if they have no means of preventing glass and other such stuff from getting into the compost they may feel it is better to use it only in applications where that doesn't matter - agricultural perhaps, or maybe parks & gardens where staff are required to wear gloves and told to be on the lookup etc.

They might also have perceived issues with residual herbicides being used on material that is then included in the Green Bin (that's been discussed on here before and the consensus was that the amounts would be so diluted by other material that it is most likely a non-issue - might not stop councils from worrying about it though)

Much as I admire the concept I have, so far, remained sceptical about using it in my own garden.