Compost, Fertilisers & Recycling

I see Homebase are selling Vermiculite, this used to be used a packing and insulation, but is very good for starting runner beans and the like, as it encourages root growth, stores moisture and allows the plants to be taken out without damaging the roots. Now for a piece of chemistry; clay needs...

What I have finally done is shred it all by manually tearing into strips, I have even done this whilst watching television. The strips are a bit coarse but that was much faster than putting it through a small domestic shredder which took forever. Thank goodness for bin bags - I stored the...

I use mine like that, I use it to earth up and then after harvesting it is dug in.

Apologies for may seem to be a rather daft question! I've taken delivery of what has been described as well rotted horse manure. As a child I grew up on the North Yorkshire moors next to farms and a riding school and I seem to recall that the manure was a dark, dark chocolate colour and crumbly...

The worms should find their way in on their own -though if you know someone with a good heap - maybe they'll let you take some? You can buy worms for composting - they are different to the ones you might dig up from the depths of the soil. I'm pretty certain that the worms sold for fishing are...

so are you saying it will take two years for newspaper to compost?

Hi there CM.You can put the manure on the soil if it is well rotted down,so you need to stack and turn it for at least 3-6 months depending on the weather.If you put it on fresh,I heard that as it rots down it robs the soil of Nitrogen,but I am not sure whether that is an old wives tale or...

Traditional JI Ericacious compost is2 parts loam (lime free) 1 part peat 1 part sharp hoticultural sandTo each cubic metre of mix, add0.6kg flowers of sulphur 1.2kg superphosphateYou can make up your own peat free ercacious by substituting coir or well rotted leafmould for the...

No do the Moss killer then just over a week or so put down the seed and feed.

Thanks for the quick reply, frogesque. I thought there might be a "day of the triffids" scenario waiting to break out from my wee dalek bin!! There will be mushroom trimmings in with the kitchen waste as I am a 'shroomy addict and eat them every other day. Actually, I'm thinking of getting a...

Just an addition, see I do need a 4x4 :D , you couldn't tow that with a car.

Westlands has a new compost out which is supposed to be more water retentive. It should be available from your local garden centre. David.

Thanks for your replies: I had made some up last year and due to the initial negative comment I received it remained unused. Now thanks to the overwhelming vote "not to touch with a barge pole" it seems I just wasted my time. At least the neighbours were amused when they saw me and asked what I...

Thanks Pete I will do that. MEF750

Good evening oktarine Thanks for the Slug tip, If I want sieve it yes I Have quite a bit available.

ty for replies. much appreciated.

Found it! Here it is, expensive but can sit anywhere amusing the kids [old and young]: http://www.rolypig.com/index.htm HeHe :D

I wouldn't have thought tomato blight likely as the plants are inside. Symptoms of blight would be stunted plants and yellowing. I usually sow tomatos singly in small containers so that they have some depth of soil to start with. Take one of yours up and look at the roots, it may be that the...

Moss is not a normal plant. Some years ago a trial was carried out, putting moss which had been thoroughly dried into a tin and sealing it. It was taken out after a few years, placed on a saucer and watered. It came back to green within a very short time. Moss which is in peat has been killed by...

hi grassclipper, i soak my rhubarb leaves first in a bucket of water, i leave it in to brew for 3-4 wks than use the resultant liquid as a spray for greenfly, lillies, brassicas and anything else that gets probs, mainly ornamental plants, but definately not on soft fruit etc. Then i compost the...