Peat-free compost can be used for all plants, flowers, fruits and vegetables. Not suitable for acid loving, ericaceous plants such as azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias. Peat free compost is the replacement for peat and will often contain a mix of more fibrous material ingredients including: It doesn’t matter if you’re an experienced green-thumbed gardener or just starting out with a few seeds for the first time, you’re guaranteed to get plenty of joy from spending more time with nature and nurturing your green oasis. NOTE: We strongly recommend using Miracle-Gro® Peat Free Premium Azalea, Camellia & Rhododendron, Ericaceous Compost for acid loving plants like Azaleas, Rhododendrons and Heather. Where to use As your plant starts to grow and you can see that its roots are filling the container, it’s time to repot into a slightly bigger home (transplanting). Don’t be tempted to go too big too soon though; just a few inches bigger and be prepared to transplant a few times if needed. 2nd stage – established plants

These are used to improve aeration and drainage in heavy clay soil and add body to light sandy soil to help retain moisture and nutrients. It also boosts the soil fertility by adding nutrients to encourage healthy foliage, flowers and root growth. This compost is specially formulated to be used for growing plants that need a more acidic soil type. These plants include Rhododendrons, Camellias, heathers, Pieris, Acers as well as blueberries. If plants like these are grown in a lime-based non acidic soil (called ‘alkaline’) they will be unable to access the nutrients they need and the plant’s foliage will go yellow and have very few flowers and fruit and eventually die. Bagged compost that is bought from a garden centre, DIY shop or supermarket is made using a different and faster process with different ingredients that produces compost ready to be used straight away, with different formulas suiting different plants as well as being weed and disease free and with varying levels of nutrients in them. For containers and baskets: Place a layer of compost in the base of the pot. Tap out the plant from the old pot, loosen the root ball and place in the centre of the pot. Fill the space around the root ball, ensuring the compost level covers all the roots. Firm lightly, water thoroughly and let drain.Place a layer of Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics Peat Free All Purpose Potted Plants Compost in the base of the container. Bagged compost is perfect for using in pots, containers, seed trays and hanging baskets as well as for filling up raised beds. It can also be used mixed in the bottom of a planting hole with garden soil. 2. Homemade compost In 2000 almost all the material that went into compost sold to the general public was peat, and by 2020 that had fallen to around a third. The industry has made significant progress in developing peat-free and peat-reduced alternatives,' David Denny, HTA Futures & Sustainability Manager, explains.

These materials are mixed together and after a few months of decomposing the materials break down into a rich humus, ready for the garden. When it comes to shop-bought compost, always buy a reputable brand so that you know the quality will be consistent and of a high standard such as Miracle-Gro or Levington. Homemade compost needs to be a rich dark brown colour and should be dry and crumble between your fingers. You know when your compost is ready as there will be no nasty smell, just a deep earthy smell. What is the best compost for beginners? Gardening is great for your health – both mental and physical. Whether it’s an indoor jungle of houseplants, a windowsill herb garden, an allotment or a patio and sweeping lawn, we’ve got everything you need to have success with what you grow. Hollow wood fibres ensure the optimum balance of air and water in the soil. How to use Containers and basketsLet’s have a look at the different types of composts available to buy and what goes in them. Peat Free All Purpose (or Multi Purpose) Compost

Compost is every gardener’s friend as it promotes healthier plant and vegetable growth. It also helps to make plants more resilient, discourages weeds, pests, and disease, adds and retains nutrients, and balances soil density. While there are many types of soil improvers available on the market, compost is one of the most environmentally friendly as it doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals, which means that your soil will be more healthy as a result. You can also buy peat-free formulas which have a neutral or mildly alkaline pH. Unwanted Food or Drink Products - Once supply conditions are broken, there are a number of factors outside of our control that can affect the quality of a product. Therefore perishable goods such as food and drink cannot be returned. As well as those mentioned above there are other specialist composts for plants with special tastes. Including: The best compost to use in your garden will depend on what you’re planting. However, most beginner gardeners will likely start off with patio pots, hanging baskets, herbs or flowering bedding plants. For these jobs we recommend a peat free all purpose compost. For houseplants it’s always best to use a peat free houseplant compost. Which compost is best for all plants? On a homemade level, garden compost is a mix of green and brown materials that have been decomposed over a matter of time depending on the materials and the size and type of composting facility.

From compost to plant food, weed control to lawncare, take a look at our comprehensive range of products to keep your garden healthy and happy. We offer peat free compost in a variety of flavours to suit every need, balanced fertilisers for your plants and lawn, safe-to-use plant disease, pest and weed control, and a range of lawncare products that’ll have you proud to host this summer’s barbecues. Do use any leftover compost by raking it into your existing soil around your garden as a soil improver. But what is peat? And why should we stop using it? To unravel the jargon, we've sought answers from a number of sustainable gardeners and peat-free campaigners, whilst looking at the latest regulations, whether the alternatives are up to the same standard, and if this is in fact, the future of gardening. What is peat? These tend to be an all purpose compost with organic plant food rather than mineral based. These organic feeds tend to release the nutrients more slowly. Ericaceous compost All purpose is generally not recommended for small seeds as often the nutrient levels can be too high although it tends to work for larger seeds like beans and sunflowers.