Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

How to find out if compost is peat free?

mjd2000mjd2000 Posts: 87
in Problem solving

I have bought some Tunstall multi-purpose compost. At the garden centre they said it would say on the bag if it contains peat, and it doesn't say anything. But opening it, it looks a lot like peat to me. Does anyone know the regulations for this? Or do I need to buy something that specifically says peat free? I tried to phone the manufacturer but can't get through. Thank you!

«13

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,142

    Tunstall do make a peat free compost - have a look here http://www.edenpark.co.uk/tunstall-compost/

    Which one have you got?


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    If it doesn't say peat free, it isn't. Peat free is a selling point for some (me) and is always on the bag.



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • StevedaylillyStevedaylilly Posts: 1,102

    Same as nutcutlet, if it is not on the bag that it pest free then take it it's not. Its agaist the trade description act to wrongly specify goods. Most MPC is now peat free and normally made up of green waste. I will always open up a bag of compost at the supplier ( with their permission that if I feel it is not as stated on the bag, then I will not buy it) to check the texture and smell of the contents 

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,888

    tee  hee at Steve's Freudian ( predictive text? )slip  with " pest free "

    ps it's the sale of goods act, not the trades description act which covers goods specifications. image

    Devon.
  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,698

    Some bags of compost now have a graphic that shows the percentage of peat contained therein. Its not easy to find though and I don't know if all manufacturers do this.

  • mjd2000mjd2000 Posts: 87

    Thanks - it annoys me that they don't have to state 'contains peat', or even say anything about where the compost comes from. It makes it very hard to make an ethical decision. I make my own compost but it's never enough.image

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,888

    Lock me in the stocks and pelt me with rotten vegetables: 

    "I buy peat based compost." 

    There, I've said it now.

     

    Devon.
  • mjd2000mjd2000 Posts: 87

    As long as you can live with yourself!!image

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,888

    Easily.

    Some of us remember being told we shouldn't buy John Innes as the Surrey loam beds were being depleted.

    When peat free is as good, and as cheap, as peat based, I'll switch.

    I'm not paying extra for something which isn't as good.

    Devon.
  • StevedaylillyStevedaylilly Posts: 1,102

    Hosstafan 

    Yep, you got me there wrong legal act quoted - I will get my coat????

Sign In or Register to comment.