Miracle-Gro Premium All Purpose Compost, PEAT FREE, 40 Litre

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But what is peat? And why should we stop using it? To unravel the jargon, we've sought answers from a number of sustainable gardeners and peat-free campaigners, whilst looking at the latest regulations, whether the alternatives are up to the same standard, and if this is in fact, the future of gardening. What is peat? You can certainly re-use them but it’s best to tip out all of the old compost and then give your pots a clean to minimise risk of pests and disease. If you have a really large container then you can re fresh the top few inches of old compost with fresh and remember to keep feeding. Why shouldn't I use my own garden soil to pot up plants? Formed over thousands of years, peat is degraded plant material that is found in peat bogs and other landscapes across the UK. Peat bogs act as a carbon sink and can be valuable habitats for wildlife. The best compost to use in your garden will depend on what you’re planting. However, most beginner gardeners will likely start off with patio pots, hanging baskets, herbs or flowering bedding plants. For these jobs we recommend a peat free all purpose compost. For houseplants it’s always best to use a peat free houseplant compost. Which compost is best for all plants? Don’t forget that some acid-loving plants such as azalea, camellia or rhododendron will require an ericaceous compost with a lower pH.

As your plant starts to grow and you can see that its roots are filling the container, it’s time to repot into a slightly bigger home (transplanting). Don’t be tempted to go too big too soon though; just a few inches bigger and be prepared to transplant a few times if needed. 2nd stage – established plants Gardening is great for your health – both mental and physical. Whether it’s an indoor jungle of houseplants, a windowsill herb garden, an allotment or a patio and sweeping lawn, we’ve got everything you need to have success with what you grow. For containers and baskets: Place a layer of compost in the base of the pot. Tap out the plant from the old pot, loosen the root ball and place in the centre of the pot. Fill the space around the root ball, ensuring the compost level covers all the roots. Firm lightly, water thoroughly and let drain. Bagged compost is perfect for using in pots, containers, seed trays and hanging baskets as well as for filling up raised beds. It can also be used mixed in the bottom of a planting hole with garden soil. 2. Homemade compost Multi-Purpose Compost with added John Innes has added grit so is perfect for larger plants grown in containers such as smaller trees and shrubs as it adds a heavier weight and helps to prevent the compost from collapsing. Organic compostDon’t sow seeds in standard all purpose compost. For best results use a specialist seed compost that provides for optimum root growth and provides the right plant food to help them develop. From compost to plant food, weed control to lawncare, take a look at our comprehensive range of products to keep your garden healthy and happy. We offer peat free compost in a variety of flavours to suit every need, balanced fertilisers for your plants and lawn, safe-to-use plant disease, pest and weed control, and a range of lawncare products that’ll have you proud to host this summer’s barbecues. These composts are based on the John Innes formulation which as well as green compost, expanded wood fibre and fertiliser, also includes top soil or loam and sand or grit. The grit or sand helps to keep the structure of the compost open, improving aeration and drainage around the roots.

NOTE: We strongly recommend using Miracle-Gro Peat Free Premium Azalea, Camellia & Rhododendron, Ericaceous Compost for acid loving plants like Azaleas, Rhododendrons and Heather. Where to use If you don’t have acidic soil then I would always recommend growing these plants in a container filled with ericaceous compost and to use a specially formulated ericaceous feed. Loam and soil based composts As a plant begins its life, it needs the right conditions to grow. Give your seeds and very young plants a head start by potting them in a fine compost designed to allow delicate roots to explore easily.Unwanted Food or Drink Products - Once supply conditions are broken, there are a number of factors outside of our control that can affect the quality of a product. Therefore perishable goods such as food and drink cannot be returned. Materials such as coir (the husk of coconuts), green compost (made from garden waste) and wood fibre are all used in growing media mixes. All have different properties in terms of water retention, water distribution and nutrient provision, which means that a significant amount of scientific research and trialling has had to be undertaken to understand how these ingredients work together to provide the best possible results for gardeners. Bagged compost that is bought from a garden centre, DIY shop or supermarket is made using a different and faster process with different ingredients that produces compost ready to be used straight away, with different formulas suiting different plants as well as being weed and disease free and with varying levels of nutrients in them.

Do use any leftover compost by raking it into your existing soil around your garden as a soil improver. These are great if you are limited on growing areas in your garden or don’t want to buy additional containers. They take up very little space and can be placed just about anywhere. You can grow all sorts of fruit, veg and herbs in these but tomatoes, aubergines, peppers and strawberries in particular work really well. These planters have a plant food mixed in that usually feeds for about 8 weeks - after then you’ll need to feed regularly with a liquid plant food. Specialist composts It doesn’t matter if you’re an experienced green-thumbed gardener or just starting out with a few seeds for the first time, you’re guaranteed to get plenty of joy from spending more time with nature and nurturing your green oasis. Water thoroughly. We recommend using Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics Plant Food to feed your plant. The For Peat's Sake campaign was launched in 2019 when it became clear that the latest of the government's deadlines to remove peat from horticulture was going to be missed. The campaign urges growers to go peat-free and they support this with hands-on advice on how to do so.These are used to improve aeration and drainage in heavy clay soil and add body to light sandy soil to help retain moisture and nutrients. It also boosts the soil fertility by adding nutrients to encourage healthy foliage, flowers and root growth. The UK government has announced it intends to ban the sale of all peat compost in garden centres by 2024 as part of its England Peat Action Plan. However, campaigns have begun many years prior to spread awareness of the issue to everyday gardeners and to encourage the ban of peat compost, as well as offering practical guidance on how to integrate alternatives into our growing routine. With so many different types of compost to choose from, sometimes it can be a little difficult to know which is the right compost to buy for your plants. The best way to think of it is by breaking it down into the life cycle of a plant. Seeds and seedlings Plants still need to be transferred to a pot with more room so that root systems continue to spread throughout their life. This helps build strong foundations, anchoring the expanding growth above ground. Even though the plants are better established, there’s plenty more development to go, so the right nutrients are essential to keep growth healthy. Aquacoir® technology absorbs up to 25% more water than ordinary compost, helps plants stay hydrated. How to use

The British Standard Institution published a specification for compost materials known as BSI PAS100 which applies across the UK. The aim of the BSI PAS100 is to try and improve confidence in composted materials among end users, specifiers and blenders. With these standards under scrutiny, many gardeners are hoping for better quality compost from peat alternatives. Peat-free compost can be used for all plants, flowers, fruits and vegetables. Not suitable for acid loving, ericaceous plants such as azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias. Compost is used to help improve soil texture, aid soil fertility as it is rich in nutrients and it also contains healthy bacteria that improves the soil health What types of compost are there? Compost containing sand is specifically well-suited for seeds and young plants due to their lighter structure. This means new roots aren’t restricted or smothered by heavy soil conditions — vital for early development.Hollow wood fibres ensure the optimum balance of air and water in the soil. How to use Containers and baskets In 2000 almost all the material that went into compost sold to the general public was peat, and by 2020 that had fallen to around a third. The industry has made significant progress in developing peat-free and peat-reduced alternatives,' David Denny, HTA Futures & Sustainability Manager, explains.