Should you lightly compact compost before planting?

[SteveDevineParticipant]

Just created my nice new veg beds, 3 inches of manure followed b 6 inches of compost. Made the pathways just by lightly walking on the parts I wanted to be pathways and my question is whether it is beneficial or not to lightly compact the remaining raised beds (by walking over it on a plank of wood) to make the bed more stable before planting?

[charlesModerator]

Steve that sounds excellent.
Yes I recommend you tamp down the compost. At times like this when it’s so dry, and the compost is unlikely to be saturated with moisture, it is much better that you firm it. Even by walking on it when the compost is rather dry, as you will see me do (I think, depends on editing) on Gardeners World this Friday.
It’s difficult to compact compost, and firm compost gives better anchorage to plant roots.
Older beds (i.e. not freshly created) do not need firming like this, just brand new ones.

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