Start Composting Now for Your Summer Garden March 19, 2017 Email 3-19-2017 It might still be cold outside, but summer is just around the corner. And the beginning of summer means the beginning of gardening season. If you start a compost now, it could be ready in three months — the perfect time to add it to a flower or vegetable bed. You can use compost as mulch around existing plants, or mix it into the top layer of a new planting bed. In addition to containing a lot of micronutrients, compost also improves the ability of soil to retain water and transfer nutrients to plants. Want to try, but not sure where to start? Check out our composting page for tips and how-tos. Don’t have a lot of space? You could try a tabletop composter or worm farm. If you don’t have a garden, you can always give your compost to a friend who does, use it on houseplants or donate it to a community garden.