🍂 Fall & Winter Soil Prep: Which Compost Should You Use?

Not all composts work the same way; some feed slowly over winter, some improve soil structure, and others deliver a nutritional “boost” just before freeze-up.

Here’s how to choose the right one for your garden beds before winter sets in.

1️⃣ C-I-L BIOMAX™ Mushroom Compost — “Soil Conditioner & Moisture Helper”

Best for: heavy clay soils, tired or compacted beds, veggie gardens

✅ Adds organic matter quickly
✅ Improves drainage & soil texture
✅ Helps sandy soil hold moisture and clay soil release moisture
✅ Great base layer before winter mulch

Why for fall: It boosts soil structure so roots can continue growing longer into fall and wake up strong in spring.

2️⃣ Fafard BIOFOR® Organic Compost w/ Peat & Bark — “Gentle, Long-Term Soil Builder”

Best for: perennial beds, shrubs, young trees, and pollinator gardens

✅ Certified organic
✅ Feeds soil microbes slowly over winter
✅ Adds a protective, moisture-locking layer
✅ Softer and less “hot” than manure

Why for fall: Ideal for root protection and microbial life — especially for established beds where you want steady improvement without overstimulation.

3️⃣ Fafard 3-in-1 All-Purpose Planting Mix — “Compost + Peat + Bark + Balance”

Best for: new beds, fall planting, raised beds, bulbs

✅ Pre-blended mix improves both fertility and structure
✅ Holds moisture while still draining well
✅ “Starter soil” for new root systems

Why for fall: Perfect if you’re still planting (shrubs, bulbs, perennials) before freeze-up. It protects roots while they establish.

4️⃣ Biosol Sea Compost (Peat, Seaweed & Shrimp) — “Ocean Minerals for Deep Nutrition”

Best for: veggie gardens, berry patches, fruit trees, tired soil needing a nutrient lift

✅ Adds trace minerals not found in regular compost
✅ Seaweed = root development + stress resistance
✅ Shrimp meal = beneficial fungi + biology boost

Why for fall: Helps plants rebound in spring with stronger root growth and better disease resistance.

5️⃣ Acti PRO Chicken Manure & Frass (4-2.5-2.8) — “Winter Nutrition Booster”

Best for: beds that need fertility, poor or depleted soil, perennials that need spring strength

✅ High organic nitrogen for early spring green-up
✅ Frass (insect compost) = beneficial microbiology
✅ Excellent for heavy-feeding plants

Why for fall: As it breaks down slowly over winter, it “pre-loads” nutrition so plants start spring with available nutrients.

Which One Should You Choose?