J. Arthur Bower Multi Purpose Compost 100L Bale

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Multipurpose compost is traditionally made from a blend of ingredients that includes peat, green compost, lime, and wood/bark. It is worth noting that the processes for extracting peat are known to have a negative impact on the environment where they are sourced from, leading many to choose to avoid composts with peat content. Of all the different types of compost available, general purpose compost has to be safest and easiest to work with. These multi-purpose mixes are also known as universal compost because they cater to a plethora of uses in different seasons. As the name suggest, multipurpose compost attempts to create a mixture with a pH and nutrient levels ideal for growing a broad range of plants. Rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias can be hard to propagate. We recommend a 50/50 mixture of ericaceous compost and silver sand. Refer to any good gardening book for detailed information on taking cuttings of these plants. If you'd like more than 10 bags of compost please call our Customer Service team who can arrange for a bespoke competitive quote on 01480 774555 (standard network charges apply)

Seed compost: fine-grade seed composts are sterilised to eliminate disease and are low nutrient, so seedlings don't get scorched. Partially fill the tub/container with compost, place plant in position and fill around the roots with compost. Firm carefully and water thoroughly. Those with more fertilizer tend to last for several months before you need to add your own fertilizer to the plant, making them more convenient, although it often increases the price too. Similarly, if the compost can retain water more efficiently it’s very convenient but probably more expensive. Peat Content

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The texture is relatively neutral – not too sandy or soggy, and there are some additional components included, like wood fibre. The wood fibre comes from FSC certified forests which means it’s been sustainably grown/sourced.

If you’re working to a budget, this Levington Multi Purpose Compost is a low-cost option that gives you 70 L of compost. They then tried to raise 12 pots of marigolds and basil seeds from each compost ( 3 from each bag bought from the 4 different areas in the country) Apparently basil does not germinate well if there is a high level of dissolved nutrients in the compost and marigolds will not thrive if the nutrient levels are too low! They counted germinated seeds and the size and quality of the seedlings.Of course, the big benefit it being multipurpose means that its probably going to be fine for most plants even if the pH requirement is off a little – some plants may not thrive as much as they could with a specific compost but the multipurpose won’t kill them. Volume A lot of gardeners find 50 L bags a lot more manageable, although of course they may not offer such good value for money. In Gro-Sure’s Peat Free All-Purpose Compost with 4 months feed, we found sulphates were more than three times the level they should be (1,400mg/l compared to 400mg/l) in each of the four bags we tested. Sulphates are used to make stable fertilisers that will feed plants as they grow. But at high doses they increase the levels of salts, and cause the compost to become too acidic, burning delicate roots and leading to crisp, lifeless plants. We labelled this compost a Don’t Buy for sowing seeds. We also discovered some of the composts in our seed sowing and young plants trials have the same name but different formulations in various bag sizes. We found: For multi-purpose composts, look for a relatively even NPK ratio . This refers to the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the mix, all of which are nutrients required for plant health.

Multi purpose compost is very forgiving! It can be used for seeding and potting on too, though you might wish to add some fertiliser to plants which are going to be living in it for the rest of their lives. Q: Can multi purpose compost be used for indoor plants? On top of this, universal composts are usually cheaper compared to those designed for specific use. Their economic value only increases once you realise that you can use them for all your plants; from seeds to grown shrubs. Key Features and Considerations When Buying Multi-Purpose Compost i. Fine Texture The sphagnum moss peat in John Innes compost improves both the aeration and water-retaining capacity, which enables the compost to make maximum use of the nutrients and trace elements in fertilisers. Store your John Innes compost from one season to another as the nutrient content may become unbalanced

The best peat free compost was Miracle - Gro concentrated enriched compost with a test score of 73% with Vital Earth multipurpose compost 2nd with a test score of 65%

It can be used at any stage of a plant’s development, including seed sowing, and the large bag is sufficient for filling approximately 70 small pots (12 cm diameter), or 14 medium pots (22 cm in diameter). Coarse sand or grit is used as a physical conditioner to allow excess water to drain from the compost and thus prevent water-logging. It also helps to provide stability for larger plants. Sometimes there will be additional ingredients like seaweed; seaweed contains a lot of micronutrients that are beneficial to both the aesthetic appearance of the plant and its general health. When it comes to compost, one of the most important things is to make sure that it contains a good balance of nutrients.Dig a large hole and put some compost into it. Add a small amount of J. Arthur Bower’s Bonemeal. Place plant in the hole and spread out the roots. Mix compost with the soil removed from the hole and add this mixture around the roots. Firm gently and water well. To make a sunken or raised bed for growing ericaceous plants, remove the garden soil and replace with ericaceous compost. A. John Innes No 2 will be perfect for potting on seedlings and young plants and for repotting houseplants. You could also consider using our Westland Houseplant potting mix Rose Tree and Shrub composts: often soil based, these are designed to mix into planting holes to get newly-planted trees and shrubs off to a flying start.