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Buying compost

punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
in Garden design
Have just been to the GC to buy supplies of MPC for this years seed sowing and potting on. I was interested to see that they now only sell peat free composts. Of course I knew this was going to happen, but was still taken a bit by surprise.
How can you lie there and think of England
When you don't even know who's in the team

S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
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Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Good luck. 
    Let us know how you get on with seed sowing.
    Devon.
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    Compost with peat has now been banned. 
    https://www.gov.uk/government/news/sale-of-horticultural-peat-to-be-banned-in-move-to-protect-englands-precious-peatlands

    I do wonder about coir, transport cost, what forest have they destroyed to grow palm trees etc.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307
    Prices have rocketed too!
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    The bag sizes are even smaller this year 😡
    AB Still learning

  • PerkiPerki Posts: 2,527
    As far as I was aware peat hasn't been banned yet for domestic gardeners. Don't hold me to it but I don't think legislation went through for it. 
  • ViewAheadViewAhead Posts: 866
    I thought it was not till the end of 2024, but I might be wrong as checking the Homebase website, it all looks to be peat free.  
  • WaterbutWaterbut Posts: 344
    Read a good substitute for peat is the next time you go to a GC buy a bag of processed manure. Mix 1 part manure to 5 parts general compost. Keep car windows open as manure is a bit smelly.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I thought it had already been banned too, but lots of peat and peat-based compost sill around

    e.g.


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • LunarSeaLunarSea Posts: 1,923
    ViewAhead said:
    I thought it was not till the end of 2024, but I might be wrong as checking the Homebase website, it all looks to be peat free.  

    Just read on both Which & Wildlife Trusts' websites and it says sale of bagged peat-based composts is banned from end of 2024. But so far that only applies in England and only to 'amateur' gardeners.

    There might possibly be a loophole if buying stuff mail-order from outside England.
    Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. 

    I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
  • LeadFarmerLeadFarmer Posts: 1,500
    edited 29 January
    Last Autumn I stocked up and bought about 24 x bags of peat compost as I was aware it was to be banned. For the previous few years I've been mixing peat compost with non peat which has worked ok, but I've yet to find a non peat compost that would be suitable to use on its own.
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