Compost, Fertilisers & Recycling

Paul - There are two basic types of fertiliser. Organic - like blood, fish and bone - ie derived from natural materials, and inorganic - like MiracleGrow - ie produced in a factory. There was a good article in the Garden - the official RHS magazine. In it, it stated that whilst the make up can...

Ah thanks for that. Best I keep the ash away from my blueberries by the sound of it.

I make a liquid fertilizer from our chicken's poo. Put one bucket of poo in a mesh bag (net curtain) and steep in about ten times the amount of water. It should look like weak tea.( It sometimes needs diluting again before using.)

Sounds interesting Adam. I think a bucket will soon be filled and maybe not big enough to be really useful. Here's another idea that might meet your requirements and be more practical. In a discreet corner of the garden that gets some sun Dig out a hole, or trench. Stack the dug out soil beside...

ants indicate its too dry aswell

A tip I picked up on a forum (might have been this one)is to sow scortzerona seed in tubes so they grow down the tube before growing into the ground/container. That way you are more likely to get straighter roots, and they do go down a long way when planted in the ground. It's the same idea as...

Erm, as above really - don't put the tanalised stuff in. Sawdust will rot down pretty quick

I reuse compost, either on the borders or in larger pots when I am running short. But somehow, I never seem to have too much and am always running out!

We have the mixed blessing of sandy soil - easy to dig but always hungry. If our cat thinks she's going to get yet another place to loll about, then she's going to be bitterly disappointed! I think I may use it to foil those pesky slugs what are queuing up to munch on my emerging lupins and...

i have around 20 bags of miracle-grow compost can i use this as a basis for seeding new lawn instead of buying topsoil?

Anything that is sold over the counter as a lawn feed, weed, or mosskiller should be safe. But always read the safety advice on the box. I can't tell you about grass seed as I just use Wilkinsons "hard wearing". It grows and its green - good enough for me.

wilroda - I don't know any of those plants. So I don't know exactly what mix you should use. My comments should be regarded as general.I give most of my plants a similar mix and they seem to like it. I never use pure compost, but like to add about a third to a half by volume of sharp sand...

Ok thats great, thank you very much for your reply i really appreciate it!!

I'm not aware of any problems so far this year, the weedkiller that caused all the problems was re-licenced at the end of last summer supposedly with stricter useage rules so it could make an unwelcome come back.

Hi 'P'...Like John,I prefer moss and better still clover ,but as Dave W says Feed 'n Weed does the job and the selective hand work will sort your daisy problem...if you have the time that is:D

We've still got loads of it

:dh: Oh oh not so good then.. Hope the air didn't turn too blue..! :wink:

Has anybody got personal experience of using rotary compost bins.There is a great deal of hype available as to their efficiency and speed of processing etc, but I cant find many claims that have come from independent sources. I have seen one model on the internet which originates from Sweden...

I've just heard a suggestion that once vegetable seedlings take hold, stop weeding around them and allow the weeds to grow - this prevents the soil drying out and the veggies need far less water and far fewer bugs. Then I searched the idea of undersowing with green manure seeds. Has anyone...

I've never used Ji seed compost, I tend to think its far too cloggy for seed sowing anything other than pretty large seeds.In fact I've never grown any plant in pure JI compost, I always add either extra peat or grit to JI no 3 for growing plants on.I think multi purpose is much better as a...