soil conditioners vs compost?

londonTiger

What is the difference?

Also for some reason my council recycling centre is selling this product: http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200276/how_can_i_reduce_waste/3122/organic_peat_free_soil_conditioner_pro-grow

(n.b. southwark is not my council - just googled it and landed on the southwark council page).

it's exactly this product and I was a bit surprised to find the council recycling centre selling this. What is this product from? Is it made from the councils farm waste or something - because it seems quite odd for the council to be selling this stuff.

Also generally speaking what's a good value soil/compost/whatever you want to call it. My head is spinning ASDA is selling 70ltr for £10 for 3 bags. But a the same time they are selling a 25L branded bag for £10 for 3 as well. So can't understand whether the branded stuff is better value or what.

londonTiger

ahhhh..

http://www.pro-grow.com/ - a product by veolia. (our councils refuse collectors).

This is probably made from recycled food waste. Is it good value? Pretty much same price being offered by our council. £4 per 30L bag. or 4 for £10.

Farway

The pro grow stuff is composted garden waste, or at least is round here where the council collects garden waste [not free]

The compost stuff is just that, a soil conditioner, contains no added nutrients, but will improve soil

The compost from the likes of ASDA, Wickes, B & Q etc is vary variable, some years it is good, some not, but it does have added nutrients

With the green, no peat lobby a lot of compost is now from all sorts of waste, and while being peat free is not always glass / plastic/ metal free

I have found Wickes to be fairly consistent, but price is not a guide

londonTiger

from what I read I thought soil conditioner was actually better than compost as it's more concentrated than compost and needs to be mixed in. Where as compost is ready mixed and can grow plants in its own right.