Best Supplier Of Compost 2022

To get fine compost out of green waste is not easy, even when using large trommel screens.

Anyone of you can do an experiment. With some extra long saftey matches and a hand riddle place the matches inside the sieve and shake, none of them should pass through the riddle as the matches will prominently be all lying horizontal. Now try tossing the matches up in the air a number of times, now there is a good chance some could drop vertically allowing them to pass through the riddle. Trommel screens can vary in size and at it might take as long as 30 seconds plus from input to output, plenty of time for long twigs but still narrow enough to pass through the screen, this is not an issue when screening peat and soil.

 

Anyone who purchase's 10kg tubs of Growmore or Bonemeal, Homebase are charging £10, might have some in stock if you live close to a depot.

 

Received an email today from the NFU that I have been invited to an online meeting by Defra. The online meeting is to discuss the governments ongoing peat policy in the ornamental sector due to concern's being raised by commercial growers, should be interesting.

 

Okay, so I am now more informed on how the peat phasing out is scheduled.

As of the 1st of January 2025 there will be no peat based or peat reduced growing media to be sold by the retail sector, this will also includes plants. So all plants sold by the retail sector must be in peat free compost, unless.

There is going to be some exemptions to the commercial sector, what they are and how long these exemptions will last for has not been confirmed. My understanding though is this, A commercial grower who specialises in the propagating of young plants will be allowed to apply for an exemption, this will allow them to use peat based growing media up to a certain pot size.

So, until confirmed, I could still use peat to grow shrub liners or other plants in pots not exceeding 9cm roughly 0.35L. However, when that plant is potted on for retail sale it has to be in a peat free compost. Until clarification, I am not 100% sure what the maximum size pot a commercial grower can use and for how long these exemptions will be granted for.

 

The suggestion that the trade can still use peat but that the rest of us cant actually stinks.

It proves the point that peat based composts are better and sod the public.

Either ban the use of peat or dont, this is just wrong.

 

It will only be those trade growers who grow from seed, they will still have to apply for an exemption. The vast amount of compost I use on the nurseries goes in container pots of 2L plus, also hanging baskets and planted containers. I will not be allowed to use a growing media that has any peat incorporated in to it, only the original pot it was germinated in. So, when I purchase plug plants, I will only be allowed to pot them on in to a peat free growing media. I am only going to use a fraction of peat I used to, how does that suggest I am still allowed to use peat?

 

I've got a bag left of 100% peat compost and to be honest nothing grew very well in it this year.

Not sure why, maybe more a fertiliser problem.

 

Dont get me wrong, I wasn't getting at you.

But why can growers use it when growing from seed.

If that is the case then why cant we all still get seed compost containing peat.

 

They will not be allowed to. If the nurseries you purchase from grows from seed or cuttings, then they will still be allowed to use a peat based compost as long as they have been granted an exemption. If they don't grow from seed but purchase plug plants etc etc to re-pot and sell to the trade, then they have to use peat free.

 

Ban it or dont ban it. Simple.

 

Because the retail sector will abuse it. From the start of joining I have always said that growing from seed should be allowed to use peat, both commercially and to the general public. To stop people from using it as mulch or raised beds and general potting, then the peat based seed compost would have to be sold at a premium price, which unfortunately is not going to happen. The retailers are only interested in M/C at a budget price as that is where the volumes are.

Basically, I can apply for an exemption for setting off seeds and cuttings, if granted I can use peat, when they are re-potted then it has to be peat free. If I was to use peat based compost to pot on, then the exemption will be cancelled and a fine will be issued. Would the general public purchase a peat based compost for setting off seeds then use a peat free compost when potting on?