I think I'd spread it around, or else use it mixed with new - plus some added nutrients - as I think it might be a bit 'stale' and recommendations are to buy it fresh each year.

Thanks SH....I expected that would be the right thing to do. On the plus side I also uncovered 2 plant pots (plastic but big enough for this year) so I can get the violas planted up once I have new potting soil. :)

What other treasures did you find lurking? LOL.

Well.....hubby was hoping to find his Troika vase (a charity shop find some years ago) and more importantly the title deeds to our property, complete with the property's history. Neither have turned up so far :(

We've still got a smaller mountain of things to go through so one never knows. We have too much "stuff"....and it's so tempting to keep collecting more as the garage is not big enough to accommodate our car....so you guessed it....it just keeps getting decluttered and filled up again!!!

Oh, how well I know that feeling! I do hope the important things turn up, though! OH is a hoarder - he keeps things 'just in case', and I suppose I'm just as bad, if I'm honest!

My wife has consigned all my charity shops" finds" to the garage too.I will have to stop buying everything I see.Oh the compost yeh I agree dont waste it its still a soil improver even if its nutrients are depleted

Composts naturally 'degrade' over weeks, the nutrients in them having broken down, and most are little better than ordinary garden soil after about 6 - 8 weeks, so, as above, jus use it as a soil conditioner. Good luck with the search. Phil J

Chega.....I can't just blame hubby for charity shop finds....we're both at it when we are out and about. Before now I've known hubby to come to a screeching halt if we are out driving and I mutter "charity shop"....and we're soon parked up and in there like a flash. Hubby loves books and we've got bookcases in every room in the house...in fact so many books that we have some stored in the garage....run out of room!

I'll follow all the good advice from you all and use the compost when we are preparing the borders. Thanks all. x

Would 'old' compost be any use as a mulch or as a plant head coverer over winter ?

I suppose so. Paul...no nutrient value though. I normally mulch with home-made compost or well-rotted manure to feed plants, and let the worms take it down.

What is worrying if the earliest post is correct that compost only 'lasts' 6-8 weeks is the time elapsed from 'harvesting' to buying could easily be over 8 weeks (harvest to packing, into warehouse and sits a bit, shipped to retailers w/house and sits a bit, shipped to retailer, then time spent on shelf/pallet before buying).

Does this mean (for us pagans who dont compost) that we could be buying 'dead' compost ?

Yes, I suppose it could! I do normally mix in some home-made compost, though, or granules, and always feed container plants in their growing season, but that point you made hadn't occurred to me before, Paul.