Affordable Compost

Jo_King

I'm having a go at growing veg this year - all in pots, because it's all I've got. I've got 7 huge bag planter things from IKEA, but I've not yet filled them up. Any idea where it's best to buy the compost? I'd rather it was reasonably environmentally friendly, but I'm already a bit broke...

MrsBartolozzi

Does your local council have a cheap/free compost service? Where I live I have found that the 2 nearest councils have different deals. Dundee city sells their compost in big bags, I've only bought it once and it was a lot cheaper than buying from a garden centre/b&q etc. Perth council gives it away free - all you have to do is shovel it into a trailer/bags in the boot etc and it's yours!
I'd give your council a ring or have a look at their website and see what they do (most councils recycling centres are open at the weekend if you work in the week.)

SailorSam

My council, Knowsley were giving away compost a couple of weeks ago, we were allowed up to 4 bags.

ALIBOBSY

Our council does a compost from the waste recyling which is sold at the tips (recycling centres), but we found it is more like homemade compost and not as rich as commercial stuff- in fact our council calls it soil improver rather than compost for those reasons.
Makes a good "padder" to add to better quality compost. We also used it with some compost and top soil for the raised beds.

ali x

BargainGalore

My council gives free soil improver but I find it full of twigs that haven't decomposed

I tend to make my own in a composter

laurel7172

My council charges £3 a bag...

I was in Lidl earlier, though, and they were selling 40L bags of peat-free compost for £2.29, if that helps...

suisidevw

Asda - 2 bags of 70L All purpose compost for £6!

misskool

laurel7172 wrote: »

My council charges £3 a bag...

I was in Lidl earlier, though, and they were selling 40L bags of peat-free compost for £2.29, if that helps...

I wouldn't use the lidl peat-free even if you paid me. Killed my tomato plants off that I'd potted on into them.

In fact, most peat free just can't compare to the peat based version. Yes, I understand the environmental impact.

peter_the_piper

MrsBartolozzi wrote: »

Does your local council have a cheap/free compost service? Where I live I have found that the 2 nearest councils have different deals. Dundee city sells their compost in big bags, I've only bought it once and it was a lot cheaper than buying from a garden centre/b&q etc. Perth council gives it away free - all you have to do is shovel it into a trailer/bags in the boot etc and it's yours!
I'd give your council a ring or have a look at their website and see what they do (most councils recycling centres are open at the weekend if you work in the week.)

Bear in mind this is suitable as a soil improver but not as a compost in pots. For that you must use a compost (usually a multipurpose) designed for plants as it has a wetting agent and added nutrients. Don't forget all nutrients run out after between 3 and 6 weeks depending on quality/price of compost.

peter_the_piper

misskool wrote: »

I wouldn't use the lidl peat-free even if you paid me. Killed my tomato plants off that I'd potted on into them.

In fact, most peat free just can't compare to the peat based version. Yes, I understand the environmental impact.

There is minimal environmental impact these days, companies are only allowed to take about 1m of peat and then return the top layer back. This layer contains the seeds and young plants which were there before peat extraction began and it does not take long for a bog to get back to where it was.

A._Badger

peter_the_piper is quite right and what's more economising on compost can be a costly game. For the sake of a pound or two per bag you can lose a lot more in plants that either won't grow well or, even, won't grow at all.

Possibly the best of the cheap multipurpose composts seems to be B&Q's which, again this year, seems to be getting good recommendations from users.