On Sun, 13 May 2012 19:50:14 +0100, Another John
wrote:

In article ,
Judith wrote:

Previous years I had bought B&Q compost ...
This year they have changed the compost - and it is appalling. The bag I
bought was full of bits of wood - some bits of polythene and also white mould
on some of the wood.

I have just tried an Aldi bag - and it is much the same (but cheaper). It
even had a section of an old green plastic plant tie in it. ...

I guess this all comes about by local authorities making "compost" from the
recyclable rubbish. ...

Well it's not "rubbish" is it? It's recyclable garden waste. The
problem of plastic comes from lazy buggers chucking their rubbish (bags,
pots, etc) in with their recyclable garden waste: it is just about
impossible for the compost processing people to "weed out" the rubbish.


What if someone had put some old plant material which had been treated with
weed-killer in their recyclable refuse?

Interesting question -- I always thought that the temperatures generated
in the "council"[1] heaps is so great that nothing (but plastic and
metal) survives.

John

[1] It's not actually "the council", is it? It's their sub-contractors,
on a nice little earner!

I would be very worried about any compost sourced from local authority
recycling. As others have said, you don't know what chemicals or,
indeed, whatever, has been thrown in that skip at the tip.

I've seen knotweed thrown into skips at my local tip. Fair play, the
guys there are alert and if I mention I've seen some, they react. But
I'm not there all the time and they say that with the stuff growing in
the area there are probably people who will dump it there every few
days.

I've noticed over the last few years that the quality of any brand
you like of multi-purpose has gone down. So I now grow everything in
coir which is sterile. The garden gets it's dose of my home-grown
compost (I know what goes into that) as do my hanging baskets and wall
planters. Saves a lot of money as well.

Cheers, Jake
=======================================
Urgling from the asylum formerly known as the
dry end of Swansea Bay.

On Sun, 13 May 2012 16:27:31 +0100, Pam Moore
wrote:

On Sun, 13 May 2012 06:37:21 +0000, kay
wrote:


'Charlie Pridham[_2_ Wrote:
;958550']
J Arthur Bowers Peat free is the most consistent of the Peat Free
composts
but we get good results on the nursery using a mix of Peat free and
soil,
both from Wicks!

J Arthurs Bowers peat free is the New Horizon mentioned below. This year
Which? is saying it gave them the best test results, not just among peat
free, but compared with peat containing composts too.

I use New Horizon for general purpose, I use their seed compost for
seeds, and I us New Horizon with sand or grit for cacti.

What really annoys me is the compaction of compost bags when piled up
in garden centres. I won't buy one now which is pressed like a brick.
If it's compacted it's such a menace to get friable again.

Pam in Bristol

The pile in garden centres is probably straight off the pallet they
were delivered on - the compaction is from producer!

I've mentioned before the tool I use to "grind down" my home compost -
http://www.ferndale-lodge.co.uk/Gard...eve_571426.htm
which also does a good job, with minimal effort, of loosening any pack
of compost you like. Just place it in a wheelbarrow, tip stuff into it
and a few turns of the handle and problem sorted.

I paid a lot less than this for mine (allowing for inflation) and when
I've posted about it in the past others have followed up with a
cheaper source.

Cheers, Jake
=======================================
Urgling from the asylum formerly known as the
dry end of Swansea Bay.

On Sat, 12 May 2012 16:54:41 +0100, Judith
wrote:



Previous years I had bought B&Q compost - and this choice was reinforced by
Which?'s best buy result.

This year they have changed the compost - and it is appalling. The bag I
bought was full of bits of wood - some bits of polythene and also white mould
on some of the wood.

I have just tried an Aldi bag - and it is much the same (but cheaper). It even
had a section of an old green plastic plant tie in it. There was an awful lot
of unrotted small wood chippings in it.


I guess this all comes about by local authorities making "compost" from the
recyclable rubbish. I know that my own does; I have never bought any directly
from them as I was just not happy at not knowing what was in it. What if
someone had put some old plant material which had been treated with weed-killer
in their recyclable refuse?

Moan over.

What do other people use for general purpose compost (growing tomatoes in) and
also compost for seeds and seedlings?

I've seen a TV advert for a Miracle-Grow product of pressed compost
which you wet and it bulks up. Easier for a non-driver like me to
carry home on the bus maybe. Years ago I bought some pressed "bricks"
of coir which made about a bucket of compost when soaked. Are they
still about?

Pam in Bristol

On Sun, 13 May 2012 23:16:30 +0100, Pam Moore
wrote:

On Sat, 12 May 2012 16:54:41 +0100, Judith
wrote:



Previous years I had bought B&Q compost - and this choice was reinforced by
Which?'s best buy result.

This year they have changed the compost - and it is appalling. The bag I
bought was full of bits of wood - some bits of polythene and also white mould
on some of the wood.

I have just tried an Aldi bag - and it is much the same (but cheaper). It even
had a section of an old green plastic plant tie in it. There was an awful lot
of unrotted small wood chippings in it.


I guess this all comes about by local authorities making "compost" from the
recyclable rubbish. I know that my own does; I have never bought any directly
from them as I was just not happy at not knowing what was in it. What if
someone had put some old plant material which had been treated with weed-killer
in their recyclable refuse?

Moan over.

What do other people use for general purpose compost (growing tomatoes in) and
also compost for seeds and seedlings?

I've seen a TV advert for a Miracle-Grow product of pressed compost
which you wet and it bulks up. Easier for a non-driver like me to
carry home on the bus maybe. Years ago I bought some pressed "bricks"
of coir which made about a bucket of compost when soaked. Are they
still about?

Pam in Bristol

Yes. I use "bales" which make about 70 litres when soaked but there
are smaller sizes. I buy "in bulk" from an eBay seller
http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/swiftbuys234/. Look for the view shop link
and go from there.

Cheers, Jake
=======================================
Urgling from the asylum formerly known as the
dry end of Swansea Bay.

Amazon do pressed coir (as well as a number of other types of pressed compost)

"Rod" wrote in message
news:17754620.61.1336931774104.JavaMail.geo-discussion-forums@vbxz8...
On Saturday, 12 May 2012 16:54:41 UTC+1, Judith wrote:
Previous years I had bought B&Q compost - and this choice was
reinforced by
Which?'s best buy result.

This year they have changed the compost - and it is appalling. The bag I
bought was full of bits of wood - some bits of polythene and also white
mould
on some of the wood.

I have just tried an Aldi bag - and it is much the same (but cheaper).
It even
had a section of an old green plastic plant tie in it. There was an
awful lot
of unrotted small wood chippings in it.


I guess this all comes about by local authorities making "compost" from
the
recyclable rubbish. I know that my own does; I have never bought any
directly
from them as I was just not happy at not knowing what was in it. What if
someone had put some old plant material which had been treated with
weed-killer
in their recyclable refuse?

Moan over.

What do other people use for general purpose compost (growing tomatoes
in) and
also compost for seeds and seedlings?

I feel a gardener's revolt against 'reduced peat' composts coming on.
If you can find an unPC garden centre Erin still do their old peat based
general compost. Clover also do a peat based compost.

Rod

I have no objection using peat-free compost, providing it is as good as a
peat based compost. However, this year I have been using a recommended
peat-free compost and have been disturbed by the number of weed seedlings
(nettle, thistle, dandelion etc) coming up in the compost. Yesterday
(Tuesday) I e-mailed the manufacturer (Westland - see below)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This year I have been using all Westland composts on the recommendation of
my local garden centre.
I have found the composts generally excellent especially the texture, but
one thing bothers me.
This is the number of weed seeds which germinate from the composts. On this
basis I have to assume
that much of the compost is composted garden refuse and the composting
process does not reach a
sufficiently high temperature to kill these seeds.

I am a specialist grower of Chrysanthemums at a antional level and my main
concern in a compost is
not in the weed seeds but in the presence of eelworm and the fungus
fusarium. Given that the
temperatures in your composting process are not high enough to eliminate
these two scourges,
can you tell me what additional process you use to eliminate these from your
compost.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have received an acknowledgement that the message has been read, but
nothing further. I will post any result that I receive.

Phil
Northern Highlands of Scotland

On Sun, 13 May 2012 01:10:08 -0700 (PDT), Dave Hill
wrote:

snip

Judith, do what I have done, go onto the B & Q website and do a review
of it, I gave it 1 star and called it rubbish.
David



Good thinking - done.

I am truly amazed that some people are so complementary about it.

Perhaps there is a QC issue and some is good and some is just bad !!

Good thinking - done.

I am truly amazed that some people are so complementary about it.

Perhaps there is a QC issue and some is good and some is just bad !!

I've had some B&Q compost this year (3x 60l or 70l bags of it for about £12). They weren't the new 'Verve' B&Q branded, and most of it was fine. There were a few woody bits in the compost, more so in one bag than the other two.

On the whole it was fine, I just think their quality control is lacking so some "slips through the net."

Of course, they may just not care either way - once you know it's rubbish they have your cash I suppose.

Jamie.

On May 15, 3:56*pm, "Jamie W. D. (@sowitgrowit)"
wrote:
Good thinking - done.

I am truly amazed that some people are so complementary about it.

Perhaps there is a QC issue and some is good and some is just bad !!

I've had some B&Q compost this year (3x 60l or 70l bags of it for about £12). They weren't the new 'Verve' B&Q branded, and most of it was fine. There were a few woody bits in the compost, more so in one bag than the other two.

On the whole it was fine, I just think their quality control is lacking so some "slips through the net."

Of course, they may just not care either way - once you know it's rubbish they have your cash I suppose.

Jamie.


I bought 6 bales a few weeks ago, they were mixed in with the new
"Rubish", the old compost was first rate,but this new Verve is c**p,
and that's being kind.
What gets me is they have the nerve to still carry the old reviews
that were for the old compost.
David @ the damp and windy end of Swansea Bay.

"Jamie W. D. (@sowitgrowit)" wrote:
I am truly amazed that some people are so complementary about it.

Perhaps there is a QC issue and some is good and some is just bad !!

I've had some B&Q compost this year (3x 60l or 70l bags of it for about ?12). They weren't the new 'Verve' B&Q branded, and most of it was fine. There were a few woody bits in the compost, more so in one bag than the other two.

I have the same, 3-for ?12 B+Q (and arthur bowes from Wilkinsons) and
both are fine. Both have been mixed with vermiculite for seeds, and
are used neat for potting up

On Tue, 15 May 2012 15:31:54 +0100, Judith wrote:

On Sun, 13 May 2012 01:10:08 -0700 (PDT), Dave Hill
wrote:

snip

Judith, do what I have done, go onto the B & Q website and do a review
of it, I gave it 1 star and called it rubbish.
David



Good thinking - done.

I am truly amazed that some people are so complementary about it.

Perhaps there is a QC issue and some is good and some is just bad !!



My comment:

================================================== ===================
Verve Compost
"This is the worst Compost I have ever bought. There were bits of plastic bag
and lots of wood. One piece of wood was 2inches long and about 0.75 inches in
diameter.
This will be the last year that I use B&Q compost"
================================================== ===================

On Thu, 17 May 2012 10:38:24 +0100, Judith wrote:

On Tue, 15 May 2012 15:31:54 +0100, Judith wrote:

On Sun, 13 May 2012 01:10:08 -0700 (PDT), Dave Hill
wrote:

snip

Judith, do what I have done, go onto the B & Q website and do a review
of it, I gave it 1 star and called it rubbish.
David



Good thinking - done.

I am truly amazed that some people are so complementary about it.

Perhaps there is a QC issue and some is good and some is just bad !!



My comment:

================================================= ====================
Verve Compost
"This is the worst Compost I have ever bought. There were bits of plastic bag
and lots of wood. One piece of wood was 2inches long and about 0.75 inches in
diameter.
This will be the last year that I use B&Q compost"
================================================= ====================




Amazing - I have just opened the last bag of the three - I was going to spread
on garden and just dig in.

It is perfect!! Just like last years - totally different from the other two
bags.

(As I said - I could not understand how some were so complementary about it)

"Judith" wrote



Previous years I had bought B&Q compost - and this choice was reinforced
by
Which?'s best buy result.

This year they have changed the compost - and it is appalling. The bag I
bought was full of bits of wood - some bits of polythene and also white
mould
on some of the wood.

I have just tried an Aldi bag - and it is much the same (but cheaper). It
even
had a section of an old green plastic plant tie in it. There was an awful
lot
of unrotted small wood chippings in it.


I guess this all comes about by local authorities making "compost" from the
recyclable rubbish. I know that my own does; I have never bought any
directly
from them as I was just not happy at not knowing what was in it. What if
someone had put some old plant material which had been treated with
weed-killer
in their recyclable refuse?

Moan over.

What do other people use for general purpose compost (growing tomatoes in)
and
also compost for seeds and seedlings?

I got so fed up with the rubbish compost around these days, having to waste
it and buy different and then replant etc that I looked around for a higher
peat compost. Ended up buying Notcutts own multipurpose, after I saw a bag
split open, and it's been good stuff. Bit like Levingtons used to be but a
lot cheaper.
--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK

On Jun 15, 5:08*pm, "Bob Hobden" wrote:
"Judith" *wrote





Previous years I had bought B&Q compost * - and this choice was reinforced
by
Which?'s best buy result.

This year they have changed the compost - and it is appalling. *The bag I
bought was full of bits of wood - some bits of polythene and also white
mould
on some of the wood.

I have just tried an Aldi bag - and it is much the same (but cheaper). *It
even
had a section of an old green plastic plant tie in it. *There was an awful
lot
of unrotted small wood chippings in it.

I guess this all comes about by local authorities making "compost" from the
recyclable rubbish. *I know that my own does; I have never bought any
directly
from them as I was just not happy at not knowing what was in it. *What if
someone had put some old plant material which had been treated with
weed-killer
in their recyclable refuse?

Moan over.

What do other people use for general purpose compost (growing tomatoes in)
and
also compost for seeds and seedlings?

I got so fed up with the rubbish compost around these days, having to waste
it and buy different and then replant etc that I looked around for a higher
peat compost. Ended up buying Notcutts own multipurpose, after I saw a bag
split open, and it's been good stuff. Bit like Levingtons used to be but a
lot cheaper.
--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Not Judith; but the other one, Judith in France. I used to buy from
Notcutts in Norwich, Norfolk, I enjoyed their help and advice. Here,
in the AuvergNe, I have found a nursery, the owners, a family, have
educated me and I buy a mix from them, inexpensive, Aand great
quality, it's very much like an expesnsive brand in the uk.

"Judith in France" wrote

Bob Hobden"wrote:

I got so fed up with the rubbish compost around these days, having to
waste
it and buy different and then replant etc that I looked around for a
higher
peat compost. Ended up buying Notcutts own multipurpose, after I saw a
bag
split open, and it's been good stuff. Bit like Levingtons used to be but
a
lot cheaper.


Not Judith; but the other one, Judith in France. I used to buy from
Notcutts in Norwich, Norfolk, I enjoyed their help and advice. Here,
in the AuvergNe, I have found a nursery, the owners, a family, have
educated me and I buy a mix from them, inexpensive, Aand great
quality, it's very much like an expesnsive brand in the uk.

When I have visited our friends down near Moissac I have been surprised at
the quality, variety and cheapness of plants and gardening stuff especially
in the markets around and about.
--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK