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BEST SUPPLIER OF COMPOST 2018

Discussion in 'Compost, Fertilisers & Recycling' started by ARMANDII, Jan 1, 2018.

  1. Mike Allen

    Mike Allen Total Gardener

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    Hi Daisybelle. Sorry to hear of your experience with JAB. I have never purchased small quantities, so perhaps the texture is slightly different due to packaging. With the larger bales, it is more compacted. Using in the GH I cut out a chunk with the spade, dump it on the potting bench and break it down with the potting trowel, even older stock is still moist, I then go about filling the pots or trays, as I also use it for seed sowing. Watering, no problems. From what you say. I imagin you plunge your pots etc into the water. Whatever the compost, this will provide you with some surface float off. Please don't give up.
     
  2. Loofah

    Loofah Admin Staff Member

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    People should always try a local search for compost businesses, we have near here and they provide some excellent compost materials and free delivery :)
     
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    • Clare G

      Clare G Super Gardener

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      As I write I'm awaiting my first ever compostdirect delivery - a bulk bag of soil conditioner for the borders. I'm slightly apprehensive about this as reviews online are mixed, however the attraction for me is that within the M25 they use a crane lorry which can (in theory) drop the bag directly into my front garden. As I don't have a car myself and there is no vehicle access to the back garden of my terraced house this will be a neat solution, if it works - I can just use a tub trug to bring the contents through and position as required.

      Edit: hoorah, the bag has just been delivered, bang on target! The contents look pretty excellent, too. This was what I ordered: Soil Conditioner
       
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        Last edited: Aug 29, 2018
      • Loofah

        Loofah Admin Staff Member

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        I've used them in the past and found they were pretty decent all round :)
         
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        • shiney

          shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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          That soil conditioner looks pretty good (better than our 'one year' own compost) but it would be too expensive for us. A 900 litre bag wouldn't go all that far in our garden so we'll have to stick to making our own :noidea: I guess we get through 4 - 6 ton a year :hate-shocked:
           
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          • Clare G

            Clare G Super Gardener

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            It really is good stuff, @shiney - and the bulk bag was just the right quantity for my small garden. I do have a couple of compost bins here but needed something extra this year, to raise the level of the borders a bit. Would definitely use them again, if needed - the whole procedure was remarkably painless - though my back is aching a bit this morning after carrying and spreading it all!
            :exhausted:
             
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            • silu

              silu gardening easy...hmmm

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              Sounds about right @shiney:). I feel it's a huge privilege to have a big garden these days when so many people have either a postage stamp of a garden or none at all but there are draw backs.Every job seems to take on gargantuan proportions which take ages to complete. To properly sweep our driveway and surrounding areas of patios etc takes nigh on a whole day:rolleyespink: and as for sweeping up/collecting leaves that is a full time job, almost,for 3 weeks ....omg we are not far of leaf fall again :yikes::cry3:
               
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              • ARMANDII

                ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                [​IMG]
                [​IMG]
                 
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                • BellaBlue

                  BellaBlue Gardener

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                  I bought 2 120L bags of J Arthur Bowers recently and am not to impressed with it. It is very dry and water settles on top before sinking in then it dries out very fast. Going to try mixing it with perlite for potting.
                   
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                  • hoofy

                    hoofy Gardener

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                    How many square meters would the 900l bag cover on flower beds?
                     
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                    • ARMANDII

                      ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                      That would depend on how thick you laid the compost, hoofy.:dunno::doh: On a border say 3' x 18' it could give you a good 3" of compost. I use about 500 liters of used compost on one border about 4' x 15 every year, which covers it nicely. But I have a 30' x 20' walk around border and that takes about over 1500 liters of used compost.
                       
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                        Last edited by a moderator: Sep 13, 2018
                      • hoofy

                        hoofy Gardener

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                        How deep should I lay the compost? I'm planning to lay it and leave it over winter and then dig in, in the spring. The bed hasn't been composted for years.
                         
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                        • ARMANDII

                          ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                          Well, up to 3" inches should be fine.:dunno: 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 will break it down, the worms will be a great help in pulling it down and then regular dressings and time will give you great soil.:coffee::snorky:
                           
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