Compost, Fertilisers & Recycling

Mine neither at the moment. I did get a healthy looking root of Iris siberica 'Lavender' and a big packet of licquorice torpedos though!

Thanks John & Mike

Lots of leaves to collect, my front is a ....

I'll be rich.

The breasts weighed 11oz each so each one was plenty for two when done with loads of veg etc.

Well, up to 3" inches should be fine. Getting more life into a border will not be solved instantly with a heavy dose of compost although it is a step forward. I add used compost on the borders every year and it take time for it to work it's way down into the soil even with digging. Nature...

I recently read Monty's book about Nigel the dog, which also gives quite a few details about the filming - yes Monty's garden and even his house has been designed or at least developed to accommodate this, with a room/outside area which can be used to accommodate the film crew and keep them...

Hi @Richard O'Brien and Welcome to GC, I am not sure if standing on slabs would be good as it would maybe inhibit drainage of all the juices of compost that normally go into the soil.. Maybe someone else will have a better idea than me.. I used to have that problem and so I now wash eggshells...

I have massive deciduous trees and therefore it is no surprise that I have huge quantities of leaves which I collect and keep in enormous piles. Unless you are in a huge hurry there is no need at all the turn the heaps. I'd almost need a JCB to turn mine. Leave the heaps uncovered or get the...

Ah well, that explains it. Very important to do PH test. You wont have blue and pink hydrangeas there in a year or two...in acid soil pink will turn purplish; in alkaline soil blue will colour towards red/purple,

All the fur from my dogs goes in here for the nesting birds. There were hundreds of them queueing up for it this year.

This sounds like green manuring, which I practise on my allotment, sow a crop specifically to be dug in. I am sure it will do good to the soil.

Thanks Verdun, don't think I have one of those shops near me though.

If you can find a sunny spot where they can sit directly on the soil and attract worms that will speed up the composting process.I've managed to hide away two 220L ones (also via the council and with a somewhat smaller footprint) in a sunny corner behind the shed in my small garden. They sit...

Right i'm with you more mate concerning soil and it being moss besides a fungus which can get out of control...that was my main concern.My hubby as just filled a bin full off our roof a week ago

Coming to this rather late in the day, I agree with the recommendations to improve the soil before feeding the plant, but do make a simplified version of this Making Compost Teas. See How to make Liquid Soluble Fertilizer from Manure, Comfrey and more. during the summer. Plants in pots and...

Agree with Nigel, Liquid seaweed is great but again short term. I use the wool pellets as a mulch against slugs, apparently it feeds the soil as well.

Sorry, but there are no alternatives to @pete

IMO commercially produced compost is now big, big business. More than likely most of us gardeners first contact with 'compost' might have been some outdoor container in which the dining table left overs went, also the kitchen waste.. Do you remember the smell when you disturbed it. The the...

I have three water barrels outside of my greenhouse that I've connected up together with a hose running into my greenhouse with a tap on the end. I fill up my watering cans with it and leave them in there to warm up.