Compost, Fertilisers & Recycling

Over the years we have an area off our farm where we dump all of our garden grass clippings, I mean years and there is a huge quantity just naturally composting away. It also has our neighbours grass and donkey/pony dung mixed around. I am growing potatoes this year, would it be better added...

I agree with rusty, I remember my grandmother's neighbour using comfrey on her chrysanthemums and on veg when fruiting too. Seemed to make an incredible difference.

Oh dear, that doesn't sound good :( It must be a common problem, so probably the compost - unless they've all been too cold?My only seedlings to have gone like that are opium poppies in compost. I think it's too wet for them.

Ive just finished using last years B & Q Verve for seedlings. Perhaps ive been lucky but i always saved any compost left over.

I use pellets quite extensively in my beds. Especially around my palms and bamboo.Sprinkle them around quite thickly. And then give a good watering.

Ellie you don't need to feed seedlings, as John says there's enough nutrients in the soil for around six weeks and by that time they are usually potted on into fresh compost. I've never fed any seedlings or young plants, in fact I don't feed anything in pots if it is eventually being planted out.

Should not be a problem. When we had a small garden I used to dig a trench across the Veg patch and fill it up gradually with material. When it was full (and still rotting down), I threw the soil from the next trench on top. Never had any problems doing it that way. The worms in the soil in...

That's Izzy, my girl, or little princess (doesn't do puddles, needs to sleep on the sofa or bed next to you). If the dog is hairy, wearing a black collar, and looks like he's thinking which paw to move next, that'll be Harley. Not the sharpest tool in the block, but he luurves you!!

Hi guys,I planted a Cornus Kousa Chinensis last year and it's now just starting to bud from winter.I've Googled what the best fertiliser would be to give it as much of a boost as I can but I only get information giving me percentages of different nutrients etc, which as a very...

Thanks all, so there's not a particularly special technique for it then I guess. I'll water in some liquid gro-more stuff starting now.

Clean the cut with antiseptic and go to the doctor, just in case.

No need to dilute it. Just so long as the amount you are adding isn't making the compost overly wet/soggy/slushy you should be ok. If it is, then follow Shiney's advice and add shredded paper to absorb the excess.

LOL. Chicken Manure. My dad, had chickens and a wonderful veggie garden. The chicken manure pile would be over on the side, piled high, never covered, not fussed with. During the time of the harvest of any veggies, should one be a little over ripe, or an animal have gotten it, he would...

I was going to mention that language barrier

Shredding them will help in breaking down, more surface area for the bacteria to work on, the bigger the heap the better, and if you can save the greens and browns to make up a big heap all at once then it will help to get it to "turn on" the bacterial process that gets the heap hot

You've just given me an idea for my squirrel problem. All I need to do is to mix it up (dry) with some bicarbonate of soda, make it attractive enough that squirrels want to eat it and..................No more squirrels!!!

Get one of these wee soil testing kits. will that do?

Humax??That's not like Soylent Green is it?

I made my beds out of gravel boards. £3:50 for a 10ft length.Rusty

Never knew that: thank you!