Old bags of compost

[Hibbutyhop]

I have some old bags of compost from last year that have been sitting out in the mega hot temperatures of last summer and the hard winter that followed. One bag is open and partially used and the other bag is sealed. Are these still usable? I get really worried about them harbouring mould or something unhealthy- I was hoping to do some planting with my children but keep putting it off incase it’s ill-advised with dodgy old compost! I’d be really grateful for any advice. I can’t easily get rid of due to gravelled flower beds.

They will be completely fine.

You can give it a go. They will be past their best, though. Most commercial compost contains fertiliser, which will probably have gone off by now, and if you've been unlucky, the compost may have been colonised by insects. I can't imagine it'd be hazardous to health, just perhaps not ideal for your plants.

I imagine most compost sits around in stacks for months before it gets to the local suppliers, not all freshly bagged.
Happy to be told I’m wrong!

I think it will be fine too. I found an unopened bag of manure in our cellar yesterday - no idea how old it is, am going to wait until it rains (soon, please) and just spread it around ....

Ps perhaps don't use it on its own for pots - agree with what a previous poster said about it being past its best.

it won’t go ‘off’ - I’m not sure what that would even mean for earth/compost!

It really shouldn't. Compost has a shelf life snd if your supplier has old compost, you need you find a better source.

For compost, it means the microbes, structure and any additional fertiliser will have broken down, and it won't be harmful, but also won't do much for your plants. If it's been kept too warm/humid, sometimes little flies like to move in too.

If it's topsoil (if that's what you mean by earth), same thing, but because topsoil is heavier, it will get more compacted and the air will be squished out of it more.

Oops, sorry, that last was to @elderflowerandpomelo.

I used to use last year’s compost with no problems at all

The plants will tell you when they’ve used all the fertiliser and would like some more added.

I have a couple of these too, and will just chuck them on the garden as a mulch (and part of the endless quest to improve our clay soil).

i would use it in the bottom of pots; half fill, mix in a handful of general purpose fertiliser granules and top up with new compost.

I had similar and chucked some plant food granules in, but I am a novice so I might be completely wrong!