Abstract: The garden waste compost was tested for feasibility as a component(0-50%)of a container medium for growing Pinus tabulaeformis container seedlings in a greenhouse. The physical and chemical properties of different mediums and their effects on the growth of seedlings were studied. When the proportions of garden waste compost reaching 40%, seedling germination percentage could achieve 80% production index requirements and rate of qualified seedlings could meet the standard. Compared to the peat treatment, seedling height, diameter, height to diameter ratio, tap root length and root biomass did not exhibite significant changes. As the composition of compost in the mixed medium increasing, it could increase the N mass fraction in seedlings significantly, also significantly promote the absorption of K in seedling foliar,and this might be good for outplanting. The physical properties and pH of all the treatments were suitable to grow seedlings, the test showed that total N, alkaline hydrolytic N, rapidly available K increased significantly when garden waste compost increasing, this might be the main reason to increase the N, K contents of seedlings. The available Fe、Mn、Cu and Cr also increased significantly,but they were all suitable for planting. Higher nutrient levels and EC might be the main reason to decrease the germination percentage and seedling quality. In general, in proportions of up to 40% in peat treatment, the compost additive used was shown to be a feasible material for seedling growing in greenhouses; while it could produce relatively high quality of seedlings when the growing media contained compost in proportions of 20%.In this study, combined with the substrates materials cost and environmental factors,the best medium prescription is 55% peat, 25% perlite and 20% compost.