I am changing way of doing things. I used to be about fertilizing each plant when I plant it... then I was all dig in the compost and make the soil all loose... now I'm put the compost on top of the bed. Don't dig it in. I don't pull the plants out either. I cut off the stems and try not to disturb the soil too much. I'm also changing my perspective of raised beds to the garden as a whole. The plastic and weed blocker are getting pulled up as soon as feasible. Chipped branches/wood, shredded leaves, shredded straw are going down in the pathways instead. Let the soil in the pathways gain fertility. I created raised beds because the soil was bad. I should have instead concentrated on how to improve the soil structure. I also just like the look of raised beds.
What changed my perspective? We have large oaks which makes growing grass difficult. THe previous owners mulched under the oaks. I continued that until I got tired of paying $1000 for mulch in the spring only to have the wife rake the mulch up with the leaves in the fall and having to do it all over again. So I started shredding the leaves with the lawn mower and putting that under the oaks. I like the look. It's free. The shredded leaves break down in a year. The soil is SO FERTILE. The oaks love it. Win. Win. Win. And this is what nature does. Minus the shredding. the leaves fall on top the ground. The leaves break down and create top soil.
This is what works for me and what is right for me. You're already winning because you are using compost. However it works for you is how you should do it.
