COMPOST

HI
I am extremly new to gardening ,i have just cleared the borders in my garden i want to dig in a good overall compost(my soil is sandy ph neutral)I have read that mushroom compost is good.Does any one know where it is available in Manchester area or can you recommend mail order?
ta

 

Spent mushroom compost, leaf mould or local authority recycled soil improver are all good for adding humus to your soil which will help its structure, encourage worms and aid moisture retention.

For mushroom compost probably your best bet would be to search your yellow pages for mushroom growers and ask if they deal with the public. Any compost is heavy and bulky so if you have your own means of transport it mill be much cheaper.

 

we used to use mushroom compost (before my horse moved i with us!) it is very good, but can turn your soil a bit alkaline if you use too much.

frogesque is right about the weight and the mess it can make in your car - why not think ahead and start a compost heap of your own.

 

hay dude you need plant gell it abzorbes 300 times its wait in water and water and nutriants are allways avalible to the root. trust me miricle stuff. chiper than compost and lasts 5 years

 

Miracle stuff does not add soil condition, you need organic matter to get air into the soil and give texture - miracle stuff great though, just not all the time.

anyway Orchid man you have not yet given me a recipe for soil for my pleone orchid - I think I have got it a bit too wet.

 

I tried to get mushroom compost but couldnt get any in my area- you may be luckier. Google it and you may get something. there were suppliers when i looked but none by me. Years ago there used to be someone by me who delivered it but havent seen their advert for ages. In the end I got some local authority soil approved recycled garden compost. It cost about�£48 delivered for a huge builders bag of it.

 

Waco sorry for delay

i planted my two orchids in plant gel. it creates lots of air pockets check out these sites

for nuteriants

http://www.super-grow.biz/Products.jsp

and

for medium

http://www.seedman.com/plantge.htm


it says
"In addition, Plant Gel, being a gelatin, allows for excellent aeration."

[ 20. April 2006, 03:29 PM: Message edited by: Orchid man ]

 

OK forgiven Mr Orchid Man, thanks for info.

Plant gel - never heard of it so will have to have a read. exotic plants need exotic solutions may be

 

:D