cheapest source of bagged topsoil/compost/manure?

LilMissEmmylou

Thanks for the b & q tip! Will be off there today to get a bag or two! I thought my spot in b&m yesterday was good £3.99 for 60ltrs but that tops it

Leif

A local Hilliers does 5 bags of compost (50L or 60L, not sure) for £15. You could always chat with the staff/manager and get a bulk deal. Just make sure you ask before you get to the till with the compost, so they think you might go elsewhere.

hotcookie101

Do I have to use topsoil? Can I use peat free compost and manure and dig it through my own soil? Figure I need a lot less than I initially thought, so buying from b&q is my plan-peat free is 3x 60l for £10 at the moment, and topsoil 40l 4 for 3 at £4 I think...

poppysarah

hotcookie101 wrote: »

Do I have to use topsoil? Can I use peat free compost and manure and dig it through my own soil? Figure I need a lot less than I initially thought, so buying from b&q is my plan-peat free is 3x 60l for £10 at the moment, and topsoil 40l 4 for 3 at £4 I think...

What's the water retention like on the peat free compost?

A._Badger

hotcookie101 wrote: »

Do I have to use topsoil? Can I use peat free compost and manure and dig it through my own soil? Figure I need a lot less than I initially thought, so buying from b&q is my plan-peat free is 3x 60l for £10 at the moment, and topsoil 40l 4 for 3 at £4 I think...

Toposil really is a better bet. If you grow in soilless potting compost you'll have perpetual watering and fertiliser issues. By all means add soilless as a top-up to existing beds (it's great as a soil improver) but you need plenty of real soil in them to start with.

Valk_scott's advice, earlier in this thread, is absolutely spot-on, by the way!

hotcookie101

poppysarah wrote: »

What's the water retention like on the peat free compost?

It seems OK for me-I have always used it for my spuds in pots and other potted veg. It actually seems better than the old multipurpose stuff I used to use. The B&Q stuff is a lot better than homebase though-I got some from there that was REALLY fibrous, like it needed longer to rot.

A._Badger wrote: »

Toposil really is a better bet. If you grow in soilless potting compost you'll have perpetual watering and fertiliser issues. By all means add soilless as a top-up to existing beds (it's great as a soil improver) but you need plenty of real soil in them to start with.

Valk_scott's advice, earlier in this thread, is absolutely spot-on, by the way!

I probably have enough space in the smaller bed (where I am planting asparagus) for 2-3 bags of "stuff" I don't want to fill it to the top (a la valk_scott's very good advice) Maybe just 2. But the others will hold 4-5 each I reckon. There is topsoil underneath. So would 2 bags of topsoil, 1 compost 1manure in each one sound like a good mix? One of the beds I didn't remove the turf, just turned it over after removing the weeds, covered with cardboard and then some manure-so I am going to use it for peas &beans and maybe tomatoes this year, the other big one I am planning on sweetcorn and possibly squash. Little one is asparagus (I SO hope it works-I adore asparagus!)

A._Badger

hotcookie101 wrote: »

I probably have enough space in the smaller bed (where I am planting asparagus) for 2-3 bags of "stuff" I don't want to fill it to the top (a la valk_scott's very good advice) Maybe just 2. But the others will hold 4-5 each I reckon. There is topsoil underneath. So would 2 bags of topsoil, 1 compost 1manure in each one sound like a good mix? One of the beds I didn't remove the turf, just turned it over after removing the weeds, covered with cardboard and then some manure-so I am going to use it for peas &beans and maybe tomatoes this year, the other big one I am planning on sweetcorn and possibly squash. Little one is asparagus (I SO hope it works-I adore asparagus!)

That sounds like a good mix to me. The only thing I'd add is that, if all goes according to plan, your asparagus will be in that bed for a long while, so it needs to be in good heart at the beginning. Also, asparagus needs good drainage so you may want to add some grit to keep the compost free draining.

hotcookie101

A._Badger wrote: »

That sounds like a good mix to me. The only thing I'd add is that, if all goes according to plan, your asparagus will be in that bed for a long while, so it needs to be in good heart at the beginning. Also, asparagus needs good drainage so you may want to add some grit to keep the compost free draining.

Oh yes, I forgot about that-what sort of grit do I need? (I have lots of pebbles in the soil will that do? :rotfl:) Is builders sand ok or should I buy actual grit?

A._Badger

hotcookie101 wrote: »

Oh yes, I forgot about that-what sort of grit do I need? (I have lots of pebbles in the soil will that do? :rotfl:) Is builders sand ok or should I buy actual grit?

I wouldn't use sand, personally. A bag if medium grit from the garden centre should do the trick - that is, assuming you think the mix might not be free-draining enough.

Thinking about it, if you use the combinations suggested above you may well not need it at all as the problem is really with heavy clay soils, not raised beds.

hotcookie101

A._Badger wrote: »

I wouldn't use sand, personally. A bag if medium grit from the garden centre should do the trick - that is, assuming you think the mix might not be free-draining enough.

Thinking about it, if you use the combinations suggested above you may well not need it at all as the problem is really with heavy clay soils, not raised beds.

It does seem pretty free draining tbh, nice and rich, but the water from the pond filter drained away quite well (best fertiliser available-fish sh*t )