All Things 100% Peat-Free
As many of you will know we are proud stockists of Melcourt Industries Ltd's PEAT-FREE compost and soil improving products. We first trialled the Sylvagrow Professional mix over 8 years ago achieving very positive results with over-wintering plants and their subsequent rate of growth in spring. Since then we have used the same mix for growing and potting on all our plants in the nursery.
In response to the needs of the gardener Melcourt Industries Ltd have increased the range of peat-free products that they offer but which do you use, when and why?
We thought a quick aide-memoire might be helpful
As its name suggests, a good all-round peat-free compost with many uses in the garden including
MULCHING the soil in AUTUMN and SPRING. At this time of the year (Autumn) PROTECTION is the name of the game - applying a mulch will suppress weeds, protect the soil from erosion, keep the soil warmer for longer to encourage root growth and importantly for your tender plants a layer of dry organic mulch topped off with a plastic cloche will protect their crowns from rotting over the winter.
FILLING NEW RAISED BEDS – mix 1 part compost to 3 or 4 parts loam or garden soil
PLANTING OUT herbaceous perennials, shrubs and trees - mix 1 part compost to 4 parts of back-fill soil
Enough balanced nutrients for 4-6 weeks growth so good for SEED SOWING and PRICKING OUT (both of which need lower levels of nutrients)
IMPROVING THE DRAINAGE OF A CLAY SOIL The RHS recommends digging in bulky organic matter and ideally composted bark to improve the drainage of a clay soil.
SYLVAGROW with Added John Innes
This is a mix of FINE BARK, WOODFIBRE and COIR plus STERILISED LOAM and SAND. The loam and sand help to buffer any changes in chemical or water fluctuations within the compost and so are good for a longer term planting situations. Also the loam will contain vital but small quantities of trace elements that plants need but which are not normally included in composts. You will also notice that it is heavier than the Sylvagrow Multi-Purpose.
It can be used for all the same uses as the Sylvagrow Multi-Purpose compost but over a longer period of time and has benefits over and above it due to the loam and sand.
SYLVAGROW John Innes No.3 (Peat-free)
This is a compost based on the John Innes No.3 recipe from the John Innes Horticultural Institute, it is ideal for the potting of established plants, trees and shrubs including vigorous climbers and fruit bushes. It uses a peat-free mix of fine bark, woodfibre, sterilised loam and fine grit plus balanced nutrients at a level that these more mature plants need. As such it can be used for:
POTTING ON
RAISED BEDS for raising vegetables and strawberries – 1 part compost to 2-3 parts loam or garden soil
GROW BAG for tomatoes, aubergines, peppers and chillies plus tomatoes and salad crops
PLANTING OUT – 1 part compost to 3 parts of back-fill soil
Sylvagrow Farmyard is made from anaerobic digestate which is a by-product of renewable energy production and does contain up to 20% certified green waste to increase the quantity of organic matter. It does not contain any animal products and is vegan friendly.
MULCHING the soil in AUTUMN and SPRING
IMPROVING SOIL STRUCTURE by enhancing the way that soil particles are held together improving drainage and/or water retention plus workability
ADDING NUTRIENTS to the soil that can be RELEASED OVER A LONGER PERIOD of time
HELPS SOILS TO HOLD WATER BETTER
PLANTING OUT of herbaceous perennials, shrubs and trees - 1 part Farmyard to 4 parts of back-fill soil.
Available from the Nursery in 50L bags
Please do not use any of the above products for plants that are ericaceous i.e. cannot tolerate an alkaline soil.