Best supplier of compost 2024

Discussion in 'Compost, Fertilisers & Recycling' started by JWK, Jan 1, 2024.

  1. ViewAhead

    ViewAhead Head Gardener

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    Looks like it is one part peat to two parts garden soil.

    IMG_0990.jpeg
     
  2. Punkdoc

    Punkdoc Super Gardener

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    I have no idea why people would want to use peat as a mulch: it contains no nutrients, and once dry is almost impossible to rewet.
     
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    • Jenny_Aster

      Jenny_Aster Optimistic Gardener.

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      Can't see where it says that, the garden centre I got the image from doesn't have an image of the back of the bag.

      Wouldn't use it as a mulch, but I am interested in adding some to a compost mix.
       
    • ViewAhead

      ViewAhead Head Gardener

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      That image is the back of an identical bag to the one you pictured. Top right it says one part peat, two parts garden soil, but rereading it, maybe they mean you should mix the contents of the bag with topsoil for use in planters.
       
      Last edited: Mar 31, 2024
    • john558

      john558 Total Gardener

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      I use own compost, Coir, Perlite & feed, It works for me.
      I do understand some may not have enough space for a compost bin.
       
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      • Jenny_Aster

        Jenny_Aster Optimistic Gardener.

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        You'll have to excuse my old dim eyes, I can just about make it out. The front of the bag says it's peat, no mention of soil, do you think it's meant as a suggested 'recipe' for window boxes. Just a thought, otherwise it's deceiving buyers.
         
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          Last edited: Mar 31, 2024
        • ViewAhead

          ViewAhead Head Gardener

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          Ah, @Jenny_Aster, I just reread it and edited my post. I think they mean you to mix it with topsoil, rather than use it neat out of the bag.
           
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          • Jenny_Aster

            Jenny_Aster Optimistic Gardener.

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            Yes, that's what I used to use, but last year was a disaster, I could hardly get anything to germinate and put it down to a PH imbalance. But it could have been a bad year and nothing to do with coir. My garden is just starting it's 3rd summer, so composting isn't yet bountiful. I do buy coir though, my worms love it.
             
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            • pete

              pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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              You used to be able to buy a base fertiliser to add to peat bales to turn them into potting compost. It contains no fertiliser and is pretty acidic in the raw state.

              I think the suggestion of adding it to soil is to use it as a soil improver, which was pretty standard practice years ago when it was cheap.
               
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              • Jenny_Aster

                Jenny_Aster Optimistic Gardener.

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                Yes I remember those, used to buy them, one for seeds and one for transplanting. It was much cheeper to buy these packets and a bale of peat than bags of potting compost.
                 
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                  Last edited: Apr 16, 2024
                • Liriodendron

                  Liriodendron Keen Gardener

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                  Peat is no longer used for burning to make electricity in Ireland, @Alisa . I don't know about the rest of the world.

                  As for harvesting peat here to sell to the UK, this seems very unlikely - perhaps the bags of Irish peat currently being sold are from previously-harvested stock. In 2021 the Irish Horticultural Peat Industry wrote: "The current legal position is that horticultural peat harvesting requires planning permission and a licence from the Environmental Protection Agency. No company in the sector (including Bord na Mona) has planning permission for the harvesting of horticultural peat and would be operating outside the law if they continued to do so." And though the government has back-tracked on this, and allowed peat extraction on a temporary basis until 2026 (because of the impact on the mushroom-growing industry and on rural employment), the peat is "for the Irish market and for production".

                  Last summer, once harvested peat stocks here had run out, peat was shipped in from Sri Lanka and Latvia, which is worse than digging it here, I reckon.

                  However, I agree with @Punkdoc that insisting on the use of peat in compost for amateur gardeners, to support our hobby, is unsustainable. After all, many seeds can be raised outdoors in a seed bed, in normal soil, just as our dads always did, and just as we do with many vegetables. And surely we can sieve big bits out of lumpy peat-free compost, and accept that we have to take a bit more care with watering...
                   
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                  • gks

                    gks Total Gardener

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                    Correct. The last watt of peat-fired electricity will be generated this weekend as the Edenderry power plant finally stops stripping bogs for fuel, that was December 2023.

                    Era of peat-fired electricity ends as Edenderry power plant switches fully to burning biomass | Irish Independent

                    However, peat burning is still a source of heat and they estimated that 1 in 7 households in Ireland was cutting peat to burn.

                    ‘Like an oilwell in your back yard’: Irish people turn to cutting peat to save on energy bills | Ireland | The Guardian

                    As for harvesting peat in N' Ireland, the Irish government released a working paper to address challenges to the horticultural sector. Horticultural peat is still being harvested and will continue to do so, the rules in getting an extension on existing bog or for new bogs is more difficult and could take years before a license is granted. The only bogs that I know of that are not allowed to harvest peat are on unregulated bogs or where an (EIA) environmental Impact Assessment has been lost.

                    gov - Working Paper to address challenges related to peat supply in the Horticulture Sector (www.gov.ie)

                    Scotland plan to phase out peat extraction, but it will only imply to the horticultural sector. The drinks industry will not be stopped from harvesting peat to burn in the distilleries or will residential house holds in the Hebrides and other off shore islands, they will still be allowed to cut and burn peat to heat their homes.

                    Ireland has been importing peat from the Baltic nations but not from Sri Lanka, if they are importing from Sri Lanka it's more likely to be coir. It will become more difficult to obtain a Peat extraction in Ireland, I am 100% sure of that. But there is nothing on where the Irish government stands on the imports of peat. Prohibiting peat extraction in N' Ireland yet still allowing imports of peat will not go down well with the manufacturers based in N' Ireland.

                    Peat is still being harvested in N' Ireland, but I think you are referring to peat extraction from Eire?
                     
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                    • gks

                      gks Total Gardener

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                      You can still get them.

                      Chempak® Seed Base with Soluwet Wetting Agent | Suttons

                      Thompson-Morgan - Search Results for chempak compost base

                      Not a cheap way to make compost anymore now though, they use to retail a lot cheaper, as below, but they are sold out.

                      Chempak Potting Base with Soluwet Wetting Agent 750g – Sam Turner & Sons (sam-turner.co.uk)
                       
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                      • gks

                        gks Total Gardener

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                        I see the proposed banning of peat based composts by the retail sector will be discussed in the commons later today.
                         
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                        • fairygirl

                          fairygirl Total Gardener

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                          That could be interesting @gks.
                          I think gardeners are seen as an easy target. They're never going to ban it for the booze industry here. Too much money involved.
                           
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