BEST SUPPLIER OF COMPOST 2018

I recall Wickes stores, after changing their formulation and then their packaging during their last fiasco, still placing their old free standing signs next to piles of it pronouncing it was suitable for seed sowing, contrary to the information on the underside of the bags

 

Has
anyone else complained directly to wickes? Because they seemed oblivious to the matter. The lady I spoke to said they have no knowledge of any problems. She stated they have a daily morning meeting and nothing has been mentioned. She stated she wasn't a gardener herself but didn't see the problem ( said she'd "seen worse " .... " cheap compost "...) quote

Then tried to tell me about peat!!

Then, asked me what it should look like
I grabbed a handful and put it on the bench and explained it should look like nice crumbly soil not cheap mattress filler....
There really isn't an emoji to express how flabbergasted I was!!!!

 

Lots of companys will not tell you there's a problem or had complain's, try this, get someone in your family or good friend and go to a company and complain about a product (make sure it's a true complait) then you go in sometime later and do the same and speek to the same person and see what the answer is

I've done it and we got 2 different answers

 

Funny how people like to try and lead you up the garden path!! with a few forks in it

 

So ,Westland appear to own Gro Sure ,A J Bowers ,Jacks Magic and Wicks compost and proberbly others and they all seem different..
That’s a big responsibility to us Gardeners.
You pays your money and takes your choice or rather chance.

 

Yep, it all points to how much you pay, in relation to what you get.
if you buy cheap compost you get cheap compost, most places like Wickes, (who lets face it is basically a building supplier), will sell rubbish at knock down prices.

If you buy from a garden centre or nursery, at least you can take the stuff back and haggle.

For me it is where you buy it, not who makes it.

 

Oh yeah you can take it back, get your money back, but they dont give a stuff, just sell the same old rubbish next year.
If you buy from someone who has a reputation to keep, they tend to be a bit more selective.

 

You know what

You know what I mean

 

We bought a bag of J Arthur Bowers for work and it’s garbage! It just won’t wet
If you add a squirt of Fairy and mix it in a bowl for a few minutes, you can sort of get some water into it, but it dries back out again.
B&M used to do Westland ericaceous, but last time I went, they only had Bowers, so I got the guy watering the plants to try and wet some for me and it was exactly the same. Glad I’d had experience of their regular stuff and thought to check-it was £4.45 for 50l, so I’d’ve bought a load!
I went to the range and got Westland ericaceous, 2x50l for £12.
We’ve had to fill raised beds this year and we’re lucky to drop on a deal at B&Q, 20l pond compost for 20p We got 65 bags and that did the bottom and then topped up with a mix of compost, manure and topsoil.
I like Lidl, Asda, avalon from the range. Dislike Morrison’s-it’s a good deal, but again, you can’t wet it. Pot your plant up, water it and all the compost’s on the floor!
Boyes had a deal 40l for £1.99, 6 bags for a tenner, but I was too late, so no idea what that’s like. I’ll keep an eye out for more, can never have too much, still got my summer bedding to plant up...

 

I just need a small amount for the rest of this season and got a 40L bag of Jack's Magic, as click and collect, at my local Wilko for £4.

 

Over the years I have used many different brands. One lot was no more than semi rotted leaf-mould. Some was like road sweepings and workshop sweepings. The best IMO is JA Bowers MPC, used in the greenhouse and the garden. Having fallen victim to buying bags of top soil and ending up with all sorts of unwanted weeds etc, I have used this compost to bulk up the garden in general. It has never failed me. I now require at least 20 x120 Lt bales/bags.

Prices are a nightmare. Local Homebase were selling it at £5 a 120 bag. No home delivery. Last year my local Makro cash & carry were selling it at 6.95 BOGOF plus vat. No delivery service. On Ebay asked prices can be as much as £20 a bag.