COMPOST REVIEW 2013

Discussion in 'Compost, Fertilisers & Recycling' started by ARMANDII, Feb 6, 2013.

  1. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2019
    Messages:
    48,096
    Gender:
    Male
    Ratings:
    +100,844
    I dropped into B&Q last night and bought 125 litres of their "Verve" Peat Free General Purpose Compost......and now I wish I hadn't. The texture of the compost is very fibrous and lumpy with small bit of twigs and a dark brown matty substance that we're supposed to grow plant's in. If that is their alternative to compost with peat in it I'll have to stick with compost that has peat in it. I've tried filling pots with it and it goes in in lumps with no even texture to it at all. I make better in my own Compost Heap and would probably get better from the local Landfill site. Not impressed and I won't buy any more, while the 125 litres I've bought will be dumped on the borders somewhere.:mad:
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • Informative Informative x 2
    • Madahhlia

      Madahhlia Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Mar 19, 2007
      Messages:
      3,678
      Gender:
      Female
      Location:
      Suburban paradise
      Ratings:
      +3,090
      Do you think you'd get anywhere if you complained? Otherwise, they'll get away with it again and again.
       
    • Spruce

      Spruce Glad to be back .....

      Joined:
      Apr 10, 2009
      Messages:
      8,786
      Gender:
      Male
      Ratings:
      +12,377
      Any one bought any compost they are happy with yet ??

      Well thats two now Verve and Wickes off the buy list

      Armandii I had Verve last year , it was :frown: just like yours.


      Spruce
       
      • Agree Agree x 2
      • ARMANDII

        ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

        Joined:
        Jan 12, 2019
        Messages:
        48,096
        Gender:
        Male
        Ratings:
        +100,844
        Hi Madahhalia. Well, I buy between 1500 and 200 litres of general purpose peat mixed compost each year and I thought I'd try peat free to see if it was useable and be a bit more "green". They still sell Peat Mixed General Purpose Compost and I notice it has actually gone down in price. I paid £7.25p for 125 litres last year and it is now £5.98p as is the Peat Free. Having been disappointed by the Peat Free I will now only buy a test sack of the Peat Mixed General Purpose Compost before buying it in quantities. They re-branded their compost last year and gave it a "With it" name of Verve but I'm always suspicious of moves like that as it normally ends in a lowering of the quality covered by bright packaging and marketing.
        Yes, there is a site on the Net where customers can complain and I have done that saying their product in not a quality product nor a alternative to Peat Mixed Compost, and that it will only do damage to their reputation.:mad:
         
        • Like Like x 3
        • joolz68

          joolz68 Total Gardener

          Joined:
          May 16, 2011
          Messages:
          4,428
          Gender:
          Female
          Location:
          alfreton uk
          Ratings:
          +5,386
          I bought one on saturday,mine seems ok up to now, i did come across a fibrous piece but ive only used approx 2 kitchen bowls full.I used tons of it last yr and it was mostly good for potting on from what i can remember,some composts id bought dried out too fast so i mainly stuck to verve,i moved on to westlands? when i found a supplier as it was hard to fit 3 x 125litre bags of verve in the tigra when its on offer :)
          Take it back :) x
           
          • Agree Agree x 1
          • mowgley

            mowgley Total Gardener

            Joined:
            Aug 16, 2005
            Messages:
            3,564
            Gender:
            Male
            Occupation:
            Wanna be gardener
            Location:
            Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
            Ratings:
            +6,627
            I too would take it ack armandii, not fit for purpose is it! :nonofinger:
            I brought 3 60l bags of durstons multi purpose compost on Saturday from ny local nik nak store as i call it and its great stuff, lovely jet black colour, no twigs or fibrous bits in it.
             
            • Like Like x 2
            • ARMANDII

              ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

              Joined:
              Jan 12, 2019
              Messages:
              48,096
              Gender:
              Male
              Ratings:
              +100,844
              My problem is, Mowgley, that I need to buy in at least 125 litre sacks because [a] it's usually cheaper, it a lot easier to shift 8 sacks of 125 litres than 24/25 60 litre sacks.
              I'm off work tomorrow so I might just take it back but it's a 40 mile round trip to my nearest B&Q, where I bought it from, which is a unnecessary trip and will be a couple of hours of my time when I've done.:dunno:

              Durston's??? It sounds good stuff but I never seen it for sale around here.:snork:
               
              • Like Like x 1
              • Spruce

                Spruce Glad to be back .....

                Joined:
                Apr 10, 2009
                Messages:
                8,786
                Gender:
                Male
                Ratings:
                +12,377
                Durston's??? It sounds good stuff but I never seen it for sale around here.:snork:



                Nor me thats a new one
                Armandii have we compost thread just for feed back on here ?
                Spruce
                 
              • ARMANDII

                ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

                Joined:
                Jan 12, 2019
                Messages:
                48,096
                Gender:
                Male
                Ratings:
                +100,844
                I've had a quick look, Spruce, and I can't find any suitable thread:dunno: :snork:
                 
                • Like Like x 1
                • joolz68

                  joolz68 Total Gardener

                  Joined:
                  May 16, 2011
                  Messages:
                  4,428
                  Gender:
                  Female
                  Location:
                  alfreton uk
                  Ratings:
                  +5,386
                  Ive not heard of dunstons either :):blue thumb:

                  Cant you reseal then and save it for potting on later?mines a bit wet at mo so ive been leaving it a bowl to dry off before i use it,its not the best time i dont think to buy from major gcs but they will move their stock nether the less,i doubt all the wet weather has not helped but dont know who supplies the verve compost and maybe not all composts will be up to scratch given the dreaded last yr! im not a compost expert thou as you know :heehee: x
                   
                • ARMANDII

                  ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

                  Joined:
                  Jan 12, 2019
                  Messages:
                  48,096
                  Gender:
                  Male
                  Ratings:
                  +100,844
                  I wouldn't use it for potting, Joolz, as it really is so bad as to be, in my opinion, useless. It comes away in bitty, matted lumps that has no proper compost texture to it. I like my compost to be crumbly and B&Q Peat Free is just a mess and not fit for potting.:dunno:
                   
                  • Like Like x 1
                  • Spruce

                    Spruce Glad to be back .....

                    Joined:
                    Apr 10, 2009
                    Messages:
                    8,786
                    Gender:
                    Male
                    Ratings:
                    +12,377

                    Make one , A bit of verve, spattering of wickes and a good dollop of Durston's
                     
                    • Like Like x 2
                    • joolz68

                      joolz68 Total Gardener

                      Joined:
                      May 16, 2011
                      Messages:
                      4,428
                      Gender:
                      Female
                      Location:
                      alfreton uk
                      Ratings:
                      +5,386
                      Take a photo of it,email them and tell them how far away you live to return and they might offer to send you a voucher for the same price,if they dont tell them you will return it when it convenient and keep your email as proof when you take it back and offer to log on and show that branch x
                       
                      • Like Like x 2
                      • Agree Agree x 1
                      • HarryS

                        HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

                        Joined:
                        Aug 28, 2010
                        Messages:
                        8,906
                        Gender:
                        Male
                        Occupation:
                        Retired
                        Location:
                        Wigan
                        Ratings:
                        +16,249
                        Spring must be on its way - we have the first MPC thread of the year :biggrin:
                        Following advice on here I stopped using Wickes MPC and used mainly the B n Q peat based Verve , which was fine last year. I usually buy the 60 / 70 litre bags , the 125 litre bags are blooming heavy to get around the back of the house !
                         
                        • Like Like x 2
                        • mowgley

                          mowgley Total Gardener

                          Joined:
                          Aug 16, 2005
                          Messages:
                          3,564
                          Gender:
                          Male
                          Occupation:
                          Wanna be gardener
                          Location:
                          Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
                          Ratings:
                          +6,627
                          • Like Like x 1
                          Loading...

                          Share This Page

                          1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                            By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                            Dismiss Notice