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Post by chrism on May 5, 2022 18:40:06 GMT
Not very convincing that explanation is it! Across the board since 2019, customer service in the UK has reverted to the 1970s. A famous online plant provider lost my business this week for that reason. Thank God we're getting back into garden centres on a regular basis.
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Post by grindle on May 6, 2022 3:33:37 GMT
I've been using Jacks Magic for the last couple of years, granted it's not peat free, but I've found it pretty good
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Post by ladybird on May 6, 2022 15:57:39 GMT
I admit to still be using a compost with peat in it  not sure if its illegal in Northern Ireland yet so just don't ask. |
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Post by Andrew on May 6, 2022 18:21:45 GMT
I bought some (cheap) peat free compost from Aldi last year, and it was simply awful looking and not very good results either. I've gone back to Westland - The Gardeners Multi Purpose compost for now, but did notice when I went to the garden centre the other day there's a new recipe for Jacks Magic, which presumably reduced the peat percentage which was very high.
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Post by chrism on May 6, 2022 20:02:47 GMT
Jacks Magic sounds interesting. Might give that a try. Thanks.
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Post by chrism on May 20, 2022 20:24:01 GMT
I bought some Miracle Gro Moisture Control for our pots, and was amazed at how rich and moist it was - nothing like the dry-looking straw we bought from different products over recent years. Which? rated it as their Best Buy. Like many of such products, regular feeding will be necessary, Im sure.
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Post by chrism on May 28, 2022 6:52:56 GMT
A quick update: The Miracle Grow Moisture Control compost dries out pretty quickly. Ironic. The pots will need regular watering and feed. No surprise, given the absence of peat, I suppose.
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Post by Andrew on May 29, 2022 9:10:53 GMT
I think that's the trade off with the move to peat free composts. I bought a couple of bags of Levington Multi Purpose from Tesco yesterday as I needed a bit more to finish off a few pots, and it saved a trip to the garden centre. Rather like the Westland stuff I bought last time it's much more 'straw-ey' (if that's a word) than I'm used to, and I did notice it drying out after not too long in the sun. But if the plants grow well, then that's the main thing.
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Post by seaburn on May 30, 2022 9:56:07 GMT
i'd be interested to know if you get many weeds in it Andrew.
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Post by Cherry on May 30, 2022 10:30:19 GMT
In Scotland there were 80 litre bags of peat in every garden centre. No ladybird it is not illegal, but soon will be. I am using Jack’s Magic with reasonable results. Using the new peat free composts needs a whole new way of handling watering, etc. All my many years of experience count for nothing now. However, I shall do my ‘bit’ to help. |
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Post by chrism on Jun 23, 2022 17:45:41 GMT
In Scotland there were 80 litre bags of peat in every garden centre. No ladybird it is not illegal, but soon will be. I am using Jack’s Magic with reasonable results. Using the new peat free composts needs a whole new way of handling watering, etc. All my many years of experience count for nothing now. However, I shall do my ‘bit’ to help. It's still legal, as the mandatory cutover is 2024 and the peat-free advocate organisation stated that chains were effectively jumping the gun too quickly and supplies could be affected. (Yeah, yeah - join the queue of shortage stories). Based on this year's experience, I'm favouring Westland Gro-Sure granules and mixing my own compost as appropriate (peat-free when no alternative; topsoil; bark mulch; grit) according to plant.
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Post by grindle on Jun 24, 2022 4:39:28 GMT
I bought some Lidl peat free compost for quickness last week, looks ok but dries out very quickly, so not over impressed so far
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Post by Andrew on Jun 26, 2022 11:17:22 GMT
Approaching a month now seaburn, and no weeds so far.  The plants seem to be growing ok, but the compost certainly dries out quicker in direct sunlight than other ones I've used previously, but the lack of weeds (so far) is certainly a real bonus. |
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Post by seaburn on Jun 26, 2022 12:04:46 GMT
That's good to know. Thanks Andrew.
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Sept 6, 2018 17:58:08 GMT
Sept 6, 2018 17:58:08 GMT
Aug 10, 2019 9:01:47 GMT