Miracle-Gro Premium All Purpose Compost, 50L

Product Information

Containing a nutrient-enhanced formula as well as a wetting agent, this compost is suitable for the majority of plants, including those in containers and hanging baskets. It’s highly absorbent, so is intended to hold water and nutrients for longer, helping stop plants from drying out. It contains a relatively even blend of nitrogen, phosphate and potassium, helping encourage both root development and flowering. To avoid too much soil compaction, choose compost with a mixture of large and small particles in it . Wood fibres are good to look out for, acting as a natural component that will allow for soil aeration. Sometimes manufactures will use a mix of materials, including stones and ceramic, which you may or may not want in your garden. Finally, whether or not compost contains peat is a matter of interest, and contention, for many gardeners. Given that it’s such a polemic issue, you’ll find that the next section is dedicated to the pros and cons of peat-based compost. Peat vs Peat-Free Compost The key ingredients to look out for are nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Broadly speaking, nitrogen helps with leaf growth, phosphate is for a strong root development, and potassium will encourage flowering and fruiting. Overall, this is one of the best composts featured if you want a good combination of larger and smaller particles in your compost. These can help with drainage and stop the compost from compacting. With this Westlands option, it’s also nice to know that FSC certified wood is used.

There’s a range of peat-free compost on the market, although some gardeners feel they are not as effective as composts containing peat. Peat-free compost generally contain wood-based materials such as wood fibre, sawdust or bark. The Miracle-Gro 119761 All Purpose Compost is suitable for use in all areas of the garden, adding nutrients to flower beds, hanging baskets, pots and containers. It’s available in either a 40 L or 50 L bag and offers great value for money.It has good water retention as well as efficient drainage, and doesn’t compact around plants of become overly dense. For reference, the 50 L bag contains enough compost to fill four large patio pots and three hanging baskets. 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.

A lot of gardeners find 50 L bags a lot more manageable, although of course they may not offer such good value for money. 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. Overall, it’s one of the best composts to use if you’re after value for money. It’s a good quality product, in a size that’s easy to manage, and you still get a lot for the price. Ideal for all plants, flowers, fruits and vegetables. Works well for young plants and established plants. Well, peat-based compost is still readily available, but a lot of gardeners are choosing to avoid it as much as possible for the above reasons.Compost is every gardener’s friend as it promotes healthier plant and vegetable growth. It also helps to make plants more resilient, discourages weeds, pests, and disease, adds and retains nutrients, and balances soil density. While there are many types of soil improvers available on the market, compost is one of the most environmentally friendly as it doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals, which means that your soil will be more healthy as a result. You can also buy peat-free formulas which have a neutral or mildly alkaline pH.