I would prefer to use a good, reputable local supplier of bulk loads of different mulches, top soil, bark etc.
We have several local to us and they all allow potential customers to visit to see their products before they spend their pennies.
There are some dodgy companies out there. One forum poster bought in a load of topsoil - only to discover a few months later that it was infested with ground elder (or perhaps a worse nasty - can't quite remember).
If it's at all possible to check out the supplier I would.
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
@Topbird IIRC there were a couple of instances over recent years ... at least one load contained Marestail!
Even the most careful of sifting can't guarantee to remove every nasty. As I suspect most of us are all too aware, marestail will grow from tiny sections of root.
Thanks folks. I think I may have found a local supplier that seems reasonably legit, Cobbleshop. Free delivery as well. They seem to sell a lot of stuff for gardens and they are the only ones I've found locally that make the claim of it being sifted. Anyones guess if it is, but at least they are claiming it is! A local farm based outfit are an option but I note they are operating under two different names, nothing untoward going on I daresay, it does make me wonder though.
Marestail and knotweed were my main worries, but as folks are saying, I guess you can't be 100% on anything. Unfortunately checking any of them out isn't an option at the moment.
I prefer this over ton bags because: 1) 25 litre bags are much easier to move around 2) You can open a bag and check the quality. If you don't like it, take the rest back 3) With the 4 for 3 offer, it's often no more expensive than ton bags! 4) You only need to buy what you need 5) You can buy it when it's convenient, so you don't need to hang around for a delivery (important for me - I work long hours)
Only within a certain (not too large) radius I think. Outside that it starts to get expensive. I pick bags up from a local GC whenever I'm passing and consider that "free delivery"
Posts
We have several local to us and they all allow potential customers to visit to see their products before they spend their pennies.
There are some dodgy companies out there. One forum poster bought in a load of topsoil - only to discover a few months later that it was infested with ground elder (or perhaps a worse nasty - can't quite remember).
If it's at all possible to check out the supplier I would.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
If I remember correctly one poor poster had a heavily infested load of soil.
They seem to sell a lot of stuff for gardens and they are the only ones I've found locally that make the claim of it being sifted. Anyones guess if it is, but at least they are claiming it is!
A local farm based outfit are an option but I note they are operating under two different names, nothing untoward going on I daresay, it does make me wonder though.
Marestail and knotweed were my main worries, but as folks are saying, I guess you can't be 100% on anything. Unfortunately checking any of them out isn't an option at the moment.
https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Multi-purpose-Top-Soil---25L/p/200247
I prefer this over ton bags because:
1) 25 litre bags are much easier to move around
2) You can open a bag and check the quality. If you don't like it, take the rest back
3) With the 4 for 3 offer, it's often no more expensive than ton bags!
4) You only need to buy what you need
5) You can buy it when it's convenient, so you don't need to hang around for a delivery (important for me - I work long hours)