Compost spreading in Exeter
Professional compost spreading services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60-£160
Typical Duration
1-3 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Compost spread evenly over your beds and borders, proper depth, kept clear of plant stems. I shift the heavy bags and do the back-breaking work - you get healthier soil and better-fed plants without wrecking your back.
Why Pay Someone To Spread Compost?
Because it's knackering work and most people do it badly.
They pile it too thick in some areas, too thin in others, dump it right against plant stems (rot), miss awkward corners, and end up with an aching back for their trouble.
Proper compost spreading is about even coverage, right depth, careful placement. Done well, it feeds your plants, suppresses weeds, and improves your soil. Done badly, it wastes money and causes problems.
💡 Pro tip: Spread compost in spring or autumn. Spring feeds plants for the growing season, autumn protects soil over winter and feeds worms. Either works - just not in summer heat when it dries out instantly.
What Good Spreading Looks Like
| ✅ Done Properly | ❌ Rushed Job |
|---|---|
| Even 5-7cm depth across all beds | Thick in easy areas, thin in corners |
| Clear of plant stems and crowns | Piled against stems (causes rot) |
| Right around established plants | Plants left in bare patches |
| Edges neat, no compost on paths | Spilled everywhere, messy finish |
What I'll Do
📏 Assessment & Planning
| What I Check | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Bed area | Work out if you've got enough compost |
| Plant types | Some plants hate rich compost, I'll avoid them |
| Existing mulch | Might need clearing first if it's decomposed to nothing |
| Access | Where are the bags? Where do I wheel them? |
🪴 The Spreading Process
- Bags/bulk compost moved to working areas
- Spread evenly with rake to 5-7cm depth
- Kept clear of plant stems, crowns, tree trunks
- Worked carefully around bulbs and perennials
- Edges tidied, no spillage on paths
📦 What You Get
- All beds properly mulched at the right depth
- Healthier plants (fed by compost nutrients)
- Fewer weeds (suppressed by mulch layer)
- Better moisture retention in soil
- No aching back for you
How Much Compost You Need
| Bed Size | Depth Needed | Bulk Bags Required |
|---|---|---|
| Small (10 sq m) | 5-7cm | 1 bag |
| Medium (20 sq m) | 5-7cm | 2 bags |
| Large (40 sq m) | 5-7cm | 3-4 bags |
One bulk bag = approximately 1 cubic metre. Covers 10-12 sq m at proper depth.
Pricing
| Amount to Spread | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 bulk bags | 1-1.5 hrs | £60-£85 |
| 3-4 bulk bags | 2-2.5 hrs | £110-£135 |
| 5+ bulk bags | 3+ hrs | £160+ |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Price is for spreading only - doesn't include compost cost.
Perfect For Your Garden If...
✅ You've had compost delivered - sitting there in bags, needs spreading
✅ Your beds look tired - compost mulch refreshes and feeds
✅ Weeds are a nightmare - thick mulch suppresses them brilliantly
✅ Your back can't take it - it's hard graft, let me do it
Why Choose Us for Compost spreading in Exeter?
Heavy bags shifted and spread for you
Even coverage across all beds
Kept away from plant stems and crowns
Weeds suppressed by thick mulch layer
What to Expect
Step 1: Survey the Job
I look at how many beds, how much compost, where it all needs to go. If you haven't got enough, I'll tell you before I start.
Step 2: Shift & Spread
Move compost to working areas, spread evenly with rake, work around plants carefully. Tidy edges as I go.
Step 3: Final Tidy
Sweep paths, check coverage is even, make sure no plant stems are buried. Job done, beds look fresh.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to do your own compost spreading? Here's how to do it properly:
🧰 What you need
- Garden rake (essential for even spreading)
- Wheelbarrow
- Spade for breaking up compacted compost
- Gloves
- Strong back or willingness to work slowly
📐 Spreading technique
- Calculate amount needed: Measure bed area, multiply by 0.06m depth = cubic metres needed
- Prep beds: Remove any thick weeds first (compost won't suppress established weeds)
- Dump in piles: Barrow compost to bed, dump in evenly-spaced piles
- Spread with rake: Pull compost between piles to create even 5-7cm layer
- Keep clear of stems: Leave 5cm gap around plant bases
- Tidy edges: Scrape compost off paths, create neat edge
🌱 Plant-specific tips
Roses, shrubs, perennials: Mulch generously around them, feeds and suppresses weeds
Alpines, Mediterranean plants: Don't mulch - they hate rich damp conditions
Bulbs: Spread carefully around emerging shoots, don't bury them
Trees: Mulch in a doughnut shape - thick at outer drip line, clear of trunk
Vegetables: Spread thickly between rows or over empty beds before planting
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Spreading too thick (more than 7cm smothers soil and wastes compost)
- Piling against plant stems (causes rot)
- Spreading in summer (dries out before it does any good)
- Using fresh uncomposted manure (burns plants)
- Forgetting corners and awkward areas
💡 Pro trick: If your compost's arrived in a bulk bag and it's compacted solid, water it the day before spreading. Makes it easier to break up and spread evenly. Also, spread from the back of the bed forward - you don't want to be walking all over freshly-spread compost.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🌿 Compost vs bark chippings: Compost feeds soil and breaks down in 6-12 months (needs topping up annually). Bark mulch lasts longer but doesn't feed plants. I can spread either - you choose based on your beds.
Old Exeter gardens often have heavy clay soil that benefits massively from annual compost mulching. Improves structure over time.
Delivery logistics: If you're ordering bulk bags, make sure the lorry can access your drive. If not, bags get dumped on the road and you/I need to shift them - adds time.
Timing matters: Spring spreading feeds the growing season. Autumn spreading feeds worms over winter and protects bare soil. Either works.
Multiple beds in different parts of the garden? We do them all in one visit - more efficient than multiple trips.
Want beds mulched annually? I can come back each spring/autumn as regular maintenance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to buy the compost first?
Either way works. If you've already got bags/bulk delivery sitting there, brilliant - I'll spread it. If you haven't bought it yet, I can advise on how much you need and where to get it locally. Can collect it for you if that helps.
What's the right depth for compost mulch?
About 5-7cm (2-3 inches) is ideal. Thick enough to suppress weeds and retain moisture, but not so thick it smothers plants or causes stems to rot. I'll spread it properly - not piled against plant stems where it causes problems.
Will you spread it around existing plants?
Yes - that's the whole point. I work carefully around perennials, shrubs, bulbs, whatever you've got growing. Compost goes between plants, not on top of them.
How much compost do I need?
Rough guide: one bulk bag (about 1 cubic metre) covers roughly 10-12 square metres at 5cm depth. But depends on your beds. I can assess and tell you exactly what you need if you're not sure.
Can you spread it on veg beds too?
Absolutely - veg beds benefit massively from annual compost mulching. Feeds the soil, suppresses weeds, improves structure. I spread it around growing crops or over empty beds ready for planting.
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