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Worried about stinky store-bought compost

picnic_chairpicnic_chair Posts: 5
in Problem solving

Hello.

I recently bought three bags of Supagrow Peat-Free Compost/Soil Improver (made I believe from green waste) from a DIY store and after bringing it home I realised it had completely stunk out my car! I wasn't too suspicious as I thought maybe it had just been because of the enclosed space of the car.

I put one bag on my borders in the hope it would improve my clay soil, but after I had done so the entire garden smelt really horrible. I would describe the smell half-way between strong farm manure and some weird chemical smell. I held off on using the other bags and eventually had to throw them out as they were permeating my garage where I was keeping them.

So it's now been around a week and a half since I put the compost on my beds and I can still smell it and get whiffs of it just sitting in the garden. It's driving me mad!

I'm worried it's some weird contaminated batch and wondering whether I should grow any vegetables in the soil or whether it might be contaminated? I wondered if anyone had any advice. It seems like it would be almost impossible to remove it as it's already dug into the soil. Do I just hope the smell goes away? I will contact the company to see what they say but not holding out much hope.

I would also add to probably avoid this compost if you can.

Thanks!

Posts

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    There have been several threads about problems with various brands of peat free compost, Including this one.
    https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1062800/peat-free-compost-disappointment/p1

    It's definitely worth contacting the company and seeing what they say. The fact that it smells ofa possible chemical substance that hasn't disappeared after 10 days would worry me if l'm honest.
    It may even be worth contacting your local trading standards and possibly Gardening from Which as well. 
    I hope someone on the forum who knows more about these things,  or has personal experience of the brand can put your mind at rest.j
  • IlikeplantsIlikeplants Posts: 894
    Yes, very disappointed by the compost this year. Seems like it’s mostly fibre, fry and greyish so isn’t dark and crumbly. The smell has disappeared at least. I’ve just decided to mix it with home compost to improve it. 
  • homehubdalvairhZIXNFyUthomehubdalvairhZIXNFyUt Posts: 1
    edited September 2022
    Hi, 

    I need some help with the below issue. I've contacted Home base and supagrow for support, but not getting help.

    I purchased 14 bags of supagrow organic compost, with 3Omins drive home with my young family. We soon realised there was a extremely foul smell in the car (obviously the compost). So had to drive with all the windows down, but to no avail. 

    The drive was extremely uncomfortable, to the extent my children almost were sick! I am so concerned my children have been inhaling some toxic fumes etc as this stuff has a foul chemical smell. The smell is still so unbelievably rancid, I all had to get showed and clothing washed.

    My car reeks of foul compost and can't get rid of the smell after cleaning best I could (now day 3).  So now having to get my car professionally valeted. 

    However, most Importantly I need a help from a expert on the matter, to confirm if inhalation is of this foul compost imposes any health concerns to my family!

     As we all had a sore throat the and weird chemical taste in our mouths the following day (and continue to do so after 3 days now, but disapating).

    This stuff should NOT be sold or come with a health/smell warning. 

    Thanks
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Have you contacted Homebase and the manufacturers of Supagrow ?
    Did you consult a GP or NHS 111 ?
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    edited September 2022
    You have commented on the compost smell on TrustPilot and Mollie from Supagrow has responded - 
    https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.supagrow.co.uk

    The majority of reviews recently are not positive on the product

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • picnic_chairpicnic_chair Posts: 5
    edited September 2022
    I didn't contact the company in my case in the end. After I had put the one bag on my garden I decided to get rid of the other two as they were stinking up the garden even after I stashed them in the shed! I unfortunately had to take them to the local refuse centre. I also subsequently found glass and bits of plastic from the one bag I had distributed, so be careful!

    homehubdalvairhZIXNFyUt, I sympathise with you as I know from experience it's not really a compost smell (as that trustpilot response puts it "actually a good sign as the product will still be composting") - it doesn't smell like that kind of smell and for me it really was a strong chemical type smell that didn't seem natural.

    The good news for me is that my garden no longer smells from the one bag I did put on my beds, and no plants seemed to be affected by it, so while I'm still not sure why it smells so awful, I think maybe it at least wasn't harmful. My car has also recovered too after leaving the windows open for a bit each day!
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