J. Arthur Bowers Multi-purpose Compost 2 x 50L Bags (100L)

Product Information

The sphagnum moss peat in John Innes compost improves both the aeration and water-retaining capacity, which enables the compost to make maximum use of the nutrients and trace elements in fertilisers. For reasons of hygiene and safety, personal grooming products, cosmetics or items of intimate clothing cannot be returned. One thing that is easy to overlook when buying compost is the texture. You want something that isn’t too fine or too coarse, with the former tending to waterlog while the later needs constant watering.

Now you have the facts, you can make your own informed decision about compost. How Much Compost to Buy 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.When peat is spread over the garden, its carbon content turns into carbon dioxide over time – not great news when trying to keep the release of greenhouse gasses to a minimum. Well, peat-based compost is still readily available, but a lot of gardeners are choosing to avoid it as much as possible for the above reasons. Whilst a lot of composts are sold in 100 L bags, these may not be practical for some people in the garden. They can weigh anywhere from at least 25 – 30 kg. J. Arthur Bower’s Multi-Purpose Compost contains nitrogen (N) for green leaf and shoot growth, phosphate (P) for strong root development and potassium (K) for an increase in flowers and fruit. It also contains trace elements to promote plant health and disease resistance. Multi purpose compost is very forgiving! It can be used for seeding and potting on too, though you might wish to add some fertiliser to plants which are going to be living in it for the rest of their lives. Q: Can multi purpose compost be used for indoor plants?

Dig a large hole and put some compost into it. Add a small amount of J. Arthur Bower’s Bonemeal. Place plant in the hole and spread out the roots. Mix compost with the soil removed from the hole and add this mixture around the roots. Firm gently and water well. To make a sunken or raised bed for growing ericaceous plants, remove the garden soil and replace with ericaceous compost. Coarse sand or grit is used as a physical conditioner to allow excess water to drain from the compost and thus prevent water-logging. It also helps to provide stability for larger plants. Does multi purpose compost go off? As long as your compost is kept dry and sealed, or at least covered over, it will last indefinitely. As soon as it gets wet however, nutrients start to leach out of it and it will be no good after about 6 months. Q: What is multi purpose compost used for? According to some customers’ experiences, this compost can deliver mixed results depending on what’s being grown – it seems that it can help broad beans, carrots and peas to thrive, but may not be as effective on tomatoes, peppers and aubergines. Soil-based composts: heavier soil-based blends are usually mixed to the John Innes formulae in 3 grades from John Innes No1 for seedlings, to John Innes No 3 for mature shrubs.For example, many have a higher volume of fertilizer that feeds plants for longer while others can reduce the amount of watering by using ingredients that help store moisture.

On top of this, universal composts are usually cheaper compared to those designed for specific use. Their economic value only increases once you realise that you can use them for all your plants; from seeds to grown shrubs. Key Features and Considerations When Buying Multi-Purpose Compost i. Fine Texture The best peat free compost was Miracle - Gro concentrated enriched compost with a test score of 73% with Vital Earth multipurpose compost 2nd with a test score of 65% The four bags of the Westland Multipurpose Compost we tested had very low levels of fertiliser producing spindly plants that failed to grow as we’d expected. Finally, whether or not compost contains peat is a matter of interest, and contention, for many gardeners. Given that it’s such a polemic issue, you’ll find that the next section is dedicated to the pros and cons of peat-based compost. Peat vs Peat-Free Compost Peat-free compost also tends to be more expensive because there is more processing involved than simply digging up peat.

Growing Calendar

Ericaceous compost: If you garden on neutral or alkaline soils and love acid-loving plants like rhododendrons or blueberries, choose this low-ph compost to give them just the conditions they need. Overall, it’s one of the best composts to use if you’re after value for money. It’s a good quality product, in a size that’s easy to manage, and you still get a lot for the price.

Cuttings – Rooted cuttings should be potted on into individual pots or containers. Treat small cuttings as seedlings. Take care with fragile roots. For larger cuttings half fill a pot, place the plant in position and fill around the roots with compost. Gently firm the compost and water well.There is also some peat in the mix, which more and more gardeners are looking to avoid; however, it is considered a ‘reduced peat’ compost, so they have gone to measures to keep the peat content down. Of course, composting is also good for the planet. Creating compost at home in a compost bin is a great way to recycle kitchen and garden waste. Ingredients in Compost Many manufacturers are attempting to lower the peat content in their compost, due to its negative impact on the environment. However, if the compost doesn’t state that it’s ‘peat free compost’ or at least ‘low in peat’, you should presume that it has a high peat content. We also discovered some of the composts in our seed sowing and young plants trials have the same name but different formulations in various bag sizes. We found: Overall, this is one of the best composts featured if you want a good combination of larger and smaller particles in your compost. These can help with drainage and stop the compost from compacting. With this Westlands option, it’s also nice to know that FSC certified wood is used.