I do it all the time... and so does Mother Nature. As long as you don't put it too thick & not right up against the base of the plant, I've never had a problem with it.

Jenny, I've recently learned that unfinished compost prevents germination of seeds. I am planning to use unfinished compost on my garden beds in between the plants in the future to suppress weeds. Also, the bacterial activity in the compost might serve as a deterrent to wandering bugs like squash bugs.

Short answer; I would deliberately use unfinished compost in the manner you are suggesting.

- Paul M.

Just put some unfinished compost on several of my perennial beds yesterday. No rain for awhile so I'm calling it mulch. Added some alfalfa tea to some of it "just in case" for extra nitrogen. Can't hurt, plants like it.

Jenny, your "mulch/compost" doesn't sound as carboniferous as mine which has fine wood shavings so it's likely OK without the addition of more nitrogen.