Gardening advice needed Compost .. Soil..

[DulwichFox]

I have bought some Large Garden Tubs and 'Filled' with compost..

Its good quality but very light.

Although it says General Usage. Sowing.. Planting.. Baskets... Tubs.

I'm sure it probably need to be mixed with something ?

Perhaps Top Soil.. ???

Any advice much needed..

Foxy

[diable rouge]

As you're using it in large tubs, you could mix it with some topsoil if you want to stretch it out, say a 50/50 mix up to about two thirds full, then finish off the top third with compost only, but I wouldn't bother doing that for smaller pots/troughs etc.

Some grit/old terracotta crocks at the bottom will help with drainage and stop the compost from oozing out of the drainage holes.

Also depends on what you're growing, some plants like Fresias need a free-draining gritty mixture, and some plants don't like being grown in peat-based composts.

Lavender thrives in poor soil so that could just as easily grow go in normal soil with no compost.

I think Rosemary and some other herbs are the same.

Veg on the other hand needs lots of nutrients so all compost would be better, maybe even mix in some well-rotted manure with it.

What are you planning on growing?...

[DulwichFox]

I have 6 Square Tubs which are 14"

and 3 Round Tubs which are 18" Diameter..

That took 4 X 50 Ltr bags of Compost

and 4 x 20 Ltr bags of Compost

280 Ltrs in total

All very dry. Does not seem to retain water.

Does need soething to mix with it.

Foxy

[DulwichFox]

I plan to Plant..

Some Geraniums, Marigolds, Perhaps Some Lavender to attract the Bees..

Also a variety of Herbs

Foxy

[tomskip]

Geraniums will be fine in dry, light soil. You need to be careful not to over water these.

You might want to get some water retaining gel or crystals for the other pots. As you have very big pots - if it gets very warm and sunny (ha!) it's best to give them a good soaking every few days rather than a light watering every day.

[diable rouge]

I've got similar sized tubs with all compost, I think the dryness is more to do with the newness of the compost, once you get plants in and roots get established, plus watering regularly (I second tom's tip about a good drenching but careful with your Geraniums) it will feel less powdery.

Good practice every year to remove the top 4 inches or so of old compost as the nutrients will have been used up and top up with fresh compost and give it a good forking...

[Sue]

Compost these days is very variable in quality, particularly with the move to peat-free composts.

However, you shouldn't need to be mixing it with topsoil for use in containers.

Where did you get it? What brand is it? Did you Google reviews?

[DulwichFox]

Sue Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Compost these days is very variable in quality,

> particularly with the move to peat-free composts.

>

> However, you shouldn't need to be mixing it with

> topsoil for use in containers.

>

> Where did you get it? What brand is it? Did you

> Google reviews?

I got 4 x 50ltr Bags from Wickes

and 4 x 20ltr Bags from Dulwich DIY

They were mixed together..

The stuff from Wickes was very dry and 'Chunky' Did not look fully broken down

The stuff from Dulwich DIY looked better. It also had white bits in it . Perlite ??

Foxy

[Sue]

https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/compost/article/should-i-buy-peat-free-compost-agoem9L4NI04#how-to-buy-the-best-peatfree-compost

[diable rouge]

Compost Corner!...

 

[Sue]

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