[andyandyjohnson]

Hi,

I'm new here and I can't find a search facility, so I apologize if this has been asked before.

I've been offered a virtually limitless supply of spent hops to use as a soil improver. Has anyone any experience of using them? Do they need digging in, or can I just use them as a mulch?  More specifically, what benefits will they bring to my rather tired clay soil?

[noshed]

I'm sure they would be great for tired soil. I'm not sure whether you should compost them first though. You should be able to use them as a mulch straight away.

[richyrich7]

They are supposed to be very good as a soil conditioner, but they are low in nutrients, so it would pay to add other manures or blood, fish & bone etc.

I'm not sure but I think they would be better if composted first or used like noshed says as a mulch.

[Clampit]

After brewing a batch of beer up, i throw all  my spent hops and malt grains on the compost heap. I've had no problems.