Best and cheapest compost?

Pixiechic

My local garden centre are doing a few buy 3 bags for a few different prices but I think that wilkinsons individual prices are better. I'm not all that clear as to what actually constitutes a bargain either.......

So, what is a good price for a certain weight bag of compost and what are your views on brands, quality and experiences?

Many thanks

jobbingmusician

Some council recycling centres give it away, I understand..........

Pixiechic

Thanks jobbing musician, I just checked our council website and can get 40 litre bags for£3! Good price and peat free. I wonder what the quality is like?

mansars

In last months Which Gardening they did a test of composts for raising seedings

The top 3 were

J Arthur Bower’s Seed & Cutting Compost 20l Bag 91%

Verve (B&Q) Grow Your Own Growing Bag 27l Bag 91%

Verve (B&Q) Sowing & Cutting Compost 12l Bag 89%



The bottom 3 were




New Horizon Organic & Peat Free Grow Bag 33l Bag 34%

Verve Grow Your Own Peat Free Growing Bag 27l Bag 34%

New Horizon organic & peat free vegetable compost 60l Bag 46%


hth

sobie

mansars wrote: »

In last months Which Gardening they did a test of composts for raising seedings

The top 3 were

J Arthur Bower’s Seed & Cutting Compost 20l Bag 91%

Verve (B&Q) Grow Your Own Growing Bag 27l Bag 91%

Verve (B&Q) Sowing & Cutting Compost 12l Bag 89%



The bottom 3 were




New Horizon Organic & Peat Free Grow Bag 33l Bag 34%

Verve Grow Your Own Peat Free Growing Bag 27l Bag 34%

New Horizon organic & peat free vegetable compost 60l Bag 46%


hth

Why would they test Growbags for raising seedlings? that seems odd to me.

Which Best Container Compost:

J. Arthur Bowers Multipurpose Compost
New Horizon Peat Free Compost.

Del_Astra

Pixiechic wrote: »

Thanks jobbing musician, I just checked our council website and can get 40 litre bags for£3! Good price and peat free. I wonder what the quality is like?

I got some from council last year, it was fine, well worth the trip. I just got to fill up the bags I had taken. We get a leaflet (it came today for this year) with the dates of brown bin recycling, which is garden waste. On this leafet is a voucher for 3 x free bags (take your own bags) they didn't bother counting last year. Even told me to come back later in the year if I required more. I mixed in some slow release feed when using in planters / baskets.

It will depend on the processes in your area tbh if people put poly bags in for example or mix foreign objects with what is used you may find things you shouldn't.

forgotmyname

I have used the B&Q peat based one for years and had good results.

I tried several different composts last year and the miracle grow seed compost was the worst.. Nothing grew at all.

Surprise was the Sainsbury's budget one. It looked terrible, Like shredded twigs, But the seeds all started well.

thumperrabbit

forgotmyname wrote: »

I have used the B&Q peat based one for years and had good results.

I tried several different composts last year and the miracle grow seed compost was the worst.. Nothing grew at all.

Surprise was the Sainsbury's budget one. It looked terrible, Like shredded twigs, But the seeds all started well.

Same, The B&Q peat based one works for me too, its not lumpy and I get great results.

forgotmyname

But the cheap sainsbury's ones = looks and feels horrible but also gave good results.

The B&Q ones 125L i think are getting a bit heavy now. Old age creeping up.

I have to go around and around working out the offers to see which ones work out the cheapest per L. I paid 3p per L more last time to get the smaller bags which are more manageable.

Pixiechic

Thanks! It looks like I am going to have a trip to B and Q! I have always thought that B and Q were a little on the expensive side but if a good price and good results then I will be more than happy!

I too will be getting the smaller bags, I know that it does work out better value to get the big bags but I value my back!

Thanks again

mansars

sobie wrote: »

Why would they test Growbags for raising seedlings? that seems odd to me.

Which Best Container Compost:

J. Arthur Bowers Multipurpose Compost
New Horizon Peat Free Compost.

No idea...but I used the Verve ones last year as they were 5 for 4 and I got another 20% with my B&Q Club card....they were also easy to store.

Pixiechic wrote: »

Thanks! It looks like I am going to have a trip to B and Q! I have always thought that B and Q were a little on the expensive side but if a good price and good results then I will be more than happy!

I too will be getting the smaller bags, I know that it does work out better value to get the big bags but I value my back!

Thanks again

Go onto the b& q site (or search on here) and get yourself a B&Q Club Card (or what ever its called) then bulk buy on the special weekends I got 20% off the 5 for 4 deal they have usually.

Hope this helps