A Quick Guide to Composting

If you Google the word garden compost, you will find a remarkable range of garden composts are offered. So how do you know which compost to choose, and what to use it for? Read on for a quick guide to garden compost types.

Peat-based and peat-free composts

Peat-free garden compost use has actually become a really huge concern for garden enthusiasts over the last few years. Obviously we all wish to be environmentally-friendly, but are peat-free composts as effective? Fortunately is that now there are lots of peat-free alternatives out there that are practically as reliable as peat-based garden composts. The options are usually based on loam, coconut shell, animal manure and straw or recycled waste. Recycled waste compost tends to be made by local authorities by composting all our food waste at extremely high temperatures to damage any bacteria and viruses, so there is lots of it about.

Mushroom garden compost

Mushroom garden compost is a very good peat-free compost, suitable for growing vegetables or as a soil improver. It generally consists of composted farming straw and animal manure, and has actually been used for growing mushrooms, thus the name. Do not stress, it will have been sterilised to remove any spores! You can't get it everywhere, but it is available from specialist compost suppliers.

Mushroom and manure compost

This is mushroom compost mixed with straw-based animal (livestock and poultry) manure, so it's really mushroom garden compost with a greater percentage of straw and manure Like mushroom compost, it's an outstanding soil improver, and can be used for the majority of non-ericaceous plants. Not just does it enhance soil structure, but it includes a lot of nutrients to the soil. Again, it may not be extensively offered from garden centres, but you can buy it from expert garden compost suppliers.

Farmyard manure.

Not exactly a compost as such, but a helpful soil improver, as it includes organic matter to the soil. This is particularly great if you have very sandy or heavy clay soils, as it will improve the texture of the soil. You will need to ensure that the manure is well-rotted before use (you'll understand, due to the fact that well-rotted manure doesn't really smell at all).

Multipurpose compost

Typically available in both peat-based and peat-free alternatives, multi-purpose compost is the go-to option if you are not really sure what to buy. There is no typically agreed formula, so you can't be definitely certain what you are getting. Some types will not be excellent for growing seeds, as the particles are too big, but otherwise it will probably work quite well for the majority of plants. You can buy multi-purpose compost at garden centres.

Soil-based garden composts

The very best understood of the soil or loam-based garden composts are most likely the John Innes composts, No1, No2, and No3. These were established by the John Innes Institute, and offer all the nutrients that plants in different stages need to grow well. Some multi-purpose garden composts declare to have included John Innes. There is no concurred meaning of what this suggests, although it seems likely that they include some loam and maybe some included fertiliser or nutrients.

Ericaceous garden compost

A special blend of garden compost ideal for lime-hating plants, such as rhododendrons and azaleas, ericaceous garden compost is commonly offered from garden centres and compost providers. Best not used for plants aside from ericaceous plants though.

Topsoil

Worth including in the round-up, as it's a reasonable alternative to compost for many purposes, this is basically good quality fertile garden soil. The majority of plants really like it, and it is available in several formulas, for instance, for veggies or for basic use, and three qualities, economy, basic purpose and premium. It's a relatively affordable growing medium, and can also be used to bulk out purchased garden composts, or as a soil improver in its own right.

Hopefully this quick guide has actually given you a much better idea of what's available from garden compost providers, and offered you the self-confidence to go out and buy garden compost with a better understanding of what you are getting. Pleased gardening.

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