8 inches deep? The "recipes" normally call for a pile that's at least 3 FEET high or it won't ignite properly.
I apply compost into the garden, rake it around and then till it under. This is normally a fall enterprise so it can sit and further digest until spring planting.
Properly done, compost is nothing more than a rich dirt. Spread it however thick you want and you can even use it straight in pots or what-have-you to grow the lushest plants you've ever seen. Judging from the dimensions of your pile and the length of time (8 weeks isn't enough), however, I'm betting it's not fully composted. If you've got manure in there then it may be too hot to apply to plants. Too hot means "too nitrogen rich" and it will burn up the roots of tender seedlings and even some adult plants. If it's just grass clippings and weeds then it's probably fine.
When compost is done, it ought to look like a handful of dirt and have no offensive smell.
