Agree that you'll never achieve a no-weed garden. Shoot some of them grow right through plastic much less paper. All you can do is limit/control them and using thick layers of some organic mulch is the most common way of doing that. But the planter's paper I am familiar with is not intended to grow "on top" of. You cut X holes and plant through it, not ON it as you said. Mulch on top of any kind of landscaping fabric or paper is a common practice but there are many things that can be used other than compost. Using good compost would be a waste of $$ and the compost since it couldn't improve the soil and the soil bacteria couldn't get to it to make nutrients available. Just use hay or straw or shredded leaves or pine straw, grass clippings, etc. There are lots of discussions here on suggestions for mulch and even more over on the Soil, Mulch & Compost forum here. Dave But no, I wouldn't use wood mulch - the problems with it are discussed in many of the other mulch discussions. Here is a link that might be useful: Soil, Mulch & Compost forum

Next time, I will probably buy Scotts Premium Topsoil. Had I known about that product, I would have saved a lot of money (this mushroom compost crap was grossly overpriced), and not gotten full-sized sequoia trees in each bag. Actually, some bags of this mushroom compost were smooth as butter. Others were awful. If only I were not rushed for time, I might have been able to be more careful. So, it's established that I screwed up. I acknowledged that in the opening post. The question is--what do I do now? Will my power mower help with this issue, as has been suggested? I'm going to spend some time picking up the worst of it by hand. Raking is not an option, as I can't disturb the seedbed. This should be fun.

What a great question -- you made me look it up. I read somewhere (not sure if true) that mushroom compost is usually basic (and for that reason, not to be used on my blueberries). That would be one difference. Mushroom compost is a by-product of mushroom farming. I think it does not have as much nitrogen as manure compost (since the mushrooms used most of it already) and there's a warning that the salts in pure mushroom compost may burn seedlings. Depending on the supplier, it may also have pesticide residues?! Ok, now I'm wondering WHY I put 2 bags of it on the veggie bed instead of using cheaper chicken manure compost. Phooey! :(

Are you really set on mushroom compost and no other compost or fertilizer? If you are interested in compost other than mushroom, there is free compost, mulch and horse manure in Palatine. There is also free horse manure in Morton Grove at the horse stable in the forest preserve on Golf & Central. If you are interested, I can give you directions to the compost in Palatine. Please let me know.