Bark and Twigs in Compost Thing of the Future

balloo_2

Bought some J Arthur Bowers Seed Compost with John Innes opened the bag and it was mixed with hard lumps of I don't know what that couldn't be broken down, so I contacted the Sinclair Group who bag and distribute JAB stuff and they were very good acted promptly asked for a sample to return to be analysed and had a letter back from them thanking me for letting them know and it was down to their supplier who they would not be dealing with again.

Now the point of this thread they said it was also down to green items like bark twigs etc etc they have to put in the mix because of Goverment Guidelines laid down about the use of to much peat So is this what we have to expect when buying Compost in the future.

foxgloves

Actually, I don't mind getting some bits of twig & bark in bags of bought compost, but I do object to pieces of broken glass! Found three pieces in a bag of compost I bought to do my autumn containers. Was glad I'd got thick gardening gloves on!

peter_the_piper

I do object to twigs, bark, glass,rocks and plastic in my compost, it can jam up the machinery. I would love to actually see the guidelines they talk about, as far as I was aware this was to do with the amount/ratio of peat based compost to non peat based.
As I understand it more peat is used in power stations than in horticulture so reducing our use will not affect overall use by much. Generally all peat (horticulture) producers only take the top metre of peat and then put back the original surface that was scraped off and so restore the bog.

balloo_2

Not sure if I can find the letter now or oh has shredded it. if i can find it i will scan and post it for all to read. Thats if you want.

A._Badger

This isn't the first time we've discussed this - and it won't be the last!

A generation's worth of propaganda has done its work and (along with the raft of chemicals which you will no longer be allowed to buy from next month) we are forced to reconcile ourselves to inadequate products to placate a noisy lobby's beliefs.

Last week in a garden centre I saw a bag of compost with the words 'chemical free' printed on it. What was inside, for heaven's sake - a perfect vacuum!?

I suppose this is what you must expect when science has all but vanished from our schools.

Peat is bad m'kay? And chemicals are teh evil!

heynonnynonny

A._Badger wrote: »

Peat is bad m'kay?

:rotfl::rotfl:

Lotus-eater

I don't mind a few twigs in the compost either, I just take them out if I am sowing seeds in it.

I've gardened without peat for years, I can't see what all the fuss is about tbh.

balloo_2

Lotus-eater wrote: »

I don't mind a few twigs in the compost either, I just take them out if I am sowing seeds in it.

I've gardened without peat for years, I can't see what all the fuss is about tbh.

If you riddled the topsoil and seen just how much you are trowing away from each bag and when you are Gardening on a budget and having to watch the pennies there is cause for concern.

annie123

I put the twigs from the compost bags in my own compost heap, helps to build gaps to allow the air to circulate, so have found them useful.

But I have to agree with the OP this years batch is full of 'stuff' I had to sieve it to sow seeds and put what looks like loads of old roots not rotted down properly into my own compost to continue breaking down.And I've no idea what the hard lumps are, so chucked them into the compost bin too.
Not what I would expect from them as it's not cheap stuff to buy.

giantmutantbroccoli

A._Badger wrote: »

Last week in a garden centre I saw a bag of compost with the words 'chemical free' printed on it. What was inside, for heaven's sake - a perfect vacuum!?

I suppose this is what you must expect when science has all but vanished from our schools.

Peat is bad m'kay? And chemicals are teh evil!

Lol at chemical free compost. Isn't that just dirt?

I thought using peat in the garden was bad because it had to be dug out of peat bogs, thus destroying the natural habitat of... whatever lives in peat bogs. Rare birds or Piltdown men or something. Is there meant to be another reason?

Also much as I hate to disagree (lies, all lies!:D), science has not 'all but vanished' from our schools. As far as I can tell it's mostly people aged 30 and over who get into all that organic, chemical-free marketing ploy stuff. People are gullible, what can you do? Nothing!