Which compost would you use for sandy soil, growing grasses and perennials?

Hello there. In most of my borders, I grow mainly grasses and perennials on sandy, free draining soil with a sandstone bedrock not far below. I don't have room to produce my own compost so I've been buying different blends of compost from a local supplier for a couple of years and applying them in autumn and spring. I'm trying to improve water retention more than anything else and don't want to overfeed as grasses can become a bit lax and prone to weather damage if given too much nitrogen.

I'm considering using one of these, described by the supplier as:

1. Springmix Compost Garden Mulch, the perfect blend of rich, black horse and chicken manure (mushroom compost), composted bark mulch fines and screened organic compost.

OR

2. Farmyard Manure, organic horse and chicken manure which is well rotted, rich and is easy to work with. Great for mixing into existing soil - give your borders a boost of nutrients, help retain water and improve the structure! This manure is also known as "Spent Mushroom Compost" as it is used to grow mushrooms in before being used for gardening. Can also be mixed into veg plots or use as a mulch over the winter(May contain rotted straw).

Which would you use? I'd appreciate your thoughts please. Thank you.

My soil today after no rain for 12 hours, already dry, apart from near the birdbath!

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Not a lot to choose between them; I'd go for whichever is cheaper.
Mushroom compost can have a lot of lime in it so ericaceous plants won't appreciate it.

 

Thank you @NigelJ, I was thinking the first option would be better. This is what came with the last Farmyard Manure delivery!

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Thank you @JWK, that’s very helpful. (I was a bit worried about the horse at the time of delivery!)

 

I think soil improvement is really an ongoing thing and needs to be done every year if possible, I tend to add stuff most years in places where it matters if I can find it.
Mostly in mulch chippings or any thing bulky.

I have lots of pots that get emptied out at the end of the season, it all goes on the ground and gets dug in.

I tried mushroom compost once, and ended up with loads of, .... Mushrooms in autumn.

 

Green waste composted to PAS100 is widely available either in bags, bulk bags or loose lorry loads in most areas. Such as Pro-grow:
www.pro-grow.com
Your local depot is here:
www.merseyside-and-halton.veolia.co.uk

 

That's to show it from a genuine farmyard.

 

Thank you @pete and @infradig for your replies, much appreciated.

 

I don't know what to make of your freebie

Are they wishing you good luck with their product

or saying youl need some extra additives to make this work as it's rubbish?????

 

I think it might be more along the lines of "Our quality control has failed on this occasion but your business is important to us - good luck!" @Purple Streaks

 

Think it could mean that p m your business is I!portent to us , do you want to reorder but on the whole j think its clear what they are sayin ,which is.............. Some extra Good luck your gonna need it

Our compost is bloody rubbish so heres hoping its extrra true that a horse shoe gives best of luck

And here's a tip from yours truly ' make sure the horse shoe is put the right way or it don't work !!!!! '

 

What ornamental grasses do you grow plant minded.?

 

Hello @Purple Streaks, I grow several varieties of Miscanthus, Panicum, Calamagrostis, Stipa, Hakonechloa and Molinia, plus a Cotaderia 'Pumila' Are you a fan of grasses too?

This is my main grass border during winter.