A group of 238 volunteers for Friends of the Earth, Plantlife, RSPB and the Wildlife Trusts mystery shopped at garden centres and found that just 19 per cent of almost…
compost
Should compost bags carry health warnings?
The growing media industry says Legionnaire’s Disease warnings on bags of compost are still not necessary – despite a tragedy making headlines. Margaret Murphy’s husband Andrew died in 2014 from…
How to make your own compost
The easiest way to start composting at home is to invest in a compost-maker. Most garden centres will stock two sizes: 220-litres or 330-litres. The golden rule is to buy…
Top tips for autumn leaves
1) Composting Autumn leaves are great for composting especially tree leaves. Tree leaves are rich in trace minerals as they have drawn in nutrients from the subsoil gained from the…
Compost maker J Arthur Bower’s to launch peat-based Masterblend compost
In January, J Arthur Bower’s will launch Masterblend Compost, made from 100 per cent Scottish peat with added John Innes. Bord na Mona recently unveiled bales of Irish Moss Peat.…
Thompson & Morgan to launch high-peat compost
Incredicompost contains 80 per cent Irish peat mixed with 20 per cent wood fibre. “When plants fail to grow, people blame us – but they don’t question the performance of…
COMPOST MAKER
Eliet chipper / shredder Prof 1V, tree / shrub branches up to 40 mm any hedge & shrub cuttings any green waste, weeds, plants, leaves, brambles, reduce to a fine material…
Peat levels in compost have fallen
The peat content in composts available at garden centres fell between 2011 and 2012. A study reveals peat made up 58 per cent of compost sold in 2011. In 2012…
Michelle’s blog: Spring forward
Spring bouncing forward The time has come to plant my potatoes in the ground. Yes it is rather early for some regions, but down here on the south coast, having…
Product profile – potting up box
Potting up box Potting trays aren’t the only moveable workstations on the market. A more compact version, which scores high on portability and good looks, is this potting-up box made…