Best supplier of compost 2025

Discussion in 'Compost, Fertilisers & Recycling' started by JWK, Jan 1, 2025.

  1. Sheal

    Sheal Total Gardener

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    You're right @Alisa I can't see it anywhere on the bag either in the pictures. I'll check it again tomorrow. I bought it at a local garden centre and it was advertised as containing peat. The staff member I spoke too confirmed by saying it's the only one they have that does and agreed with me that peat free compost is hopeless. I shop there often and trust the word of the staff. The compost also feels and looks like it contains peat and being produced in Northern Ireland also suggests that.

    Diversifying slightly - a month or so ago out shopping, I visited a number of places including a few nurseries. One of them was selling large bags of moss peat, possibly 150 litres, and for the life of me I can't remember where I saw it - I should have bought some at the time. :doh:

    Peat is still available to us in Scotland.
     
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    • fairygirl

      fairygirl Total Gardener

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      The best compost I've ever used is available at our local mill, about a mile away.
      It's called Mother Earth. It's also produced in Ireland -I think from the water purification process, and therefore contains some peat. £7 for 60 litres. It's consistently fabulous stuff.
      It may be a similar product to that one @Sheal, and is fantastic for every job.
      Usually, if it doesn't say it's peat free @Alisa , it means it does contain peat, but you don't really know to what extent.
      I bought a bag of multi purpose, own brand stuff from B&Q recently. It's fine as a general mulch, topping up pots, or for rougher jobs, but you'd need to sieve it for seed sowing, cuttings etc. I did some the other day and it was ok, but the majority of it was rough stuff, so it would be fairly useless if you needed it for mainly seed or potting on etc.
       
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      • Sheal

        Sheal Total Gardener

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        I've not heard of Mother Earth @fairygirl, so perhaps it's just local to you even though its produced in Ireland. I'll keep my eyes peeled for it when I'm out and about though.

        That's what I was thinking. I completely checked the bag again today but there's nothing to say it does or doesn't contain peat, in fact it doesn't identify it's contents at all.

        I used to use B&Q's multi purpose for everything years ago but the quality dropped so much I gave up with it. They stopped cleaning/screening it too and I was fed up fighting sciarid flies with indoor plants. I microwave all soil/compost for indoor plants now to be sure there's nothing untoward lurking. :)
         
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        • fairygirl

          fairygirl Total Gardener

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          I tend not to use new compost for anything indoors @Sheal , unless it's that M. Earth one, but I don't really have houseplants, so that makes it easier! The only indoor stuff I have is what I'm growing on for outside -ie seeds etc in early spring, and basil, which I don't put outside other than daytime if it's decent enough.
          I can just imagine my daughter going to use the microwave and finding compost in there. That's an instant phone call to the old folks' home....:heehee:
           
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          • Alisa

            Alisa Super Gardener

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            Yes, me too, I read what's on the bag several times, I looked online, no help. So I decided they must be avoiding mentioning the word "peat". :) Lucky that I managed to stock some bags.
            Peat free I mixed with my garden soil doesn't work for pots outside, I have to water twice a day.
            I have quite a lot of houseplants. I use biobizz light mix, bark and other additives depending on the species.
            Plus biobizz worked well for germinating tomatoes and other plants I grew for the garden.
             
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            • Friendly

              Friendly Super Gardener

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              I can't find John Innes no 3 with peat anywhere locally.
               
            • pete

              pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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              I've got a couple of bags of Westland JI and it looks the same almost to their Jacks Magic, maybe with some sand.
              Can't see any peat or soil in it, I guess they will just say it contains the JI fertiliser formula if they are questioned.
               
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              • Sheal

                Sheal Total Gardener

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                There's none here either @Friendly. JI have changed their range to peat free I think.
                 
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                • Pushkin

                  Pushkin Super Gardener

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                  It's currently 4 for 3 in Poundland.
                  That comes to £2.63 a bag. I bought 4 bags today.
                   
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                  • Sheal

                    Sheal Total Gardener

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                    How much does the bag contain please @Pushkin?
                     
                  • Alisa

                    Alisa Super Gardener

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                    My Poundland had 40l bags.
                     
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                    • Pushkin

                      Pushkin Super Gardener

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                      40 Litres per bag.
                      I bought another 4 today.
                       
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                      • pete

                        pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                        JI compost was always a soil based compost, the peat element was never the largest part, and to be honest it was very rarely visible in the compost.

                        Lots of companies make JI compost.
                         
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                        • Sheal

                          Sheal Total Gardener

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                          Let us know at a later point how you and your seeds/seedlings/plants get on with it please @Pushkin.
                           
                        • Pushkin

                          Pushkin Super Gardener

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                          I've been using it for a few years now with no problems.
                           
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