Compost buying guide
Give your plants the support they need for healthy growth
If you're looking to create a stunning garden with gorgeous flowers and thriving fruits, don’t just use the soil from your garden. Give your flowers, fruit and vegetables the best start by choosing the right compost to help them become established.
Compost has a superior structure to normal garden soil – both nutritionally and physically. Compost tends to have fertiliser added, offering the specific nutrients your plants need, whatever stage of development they’re at, for several weeks. Some will have organic matter added to them to help change the physical structure of the soil, making it richer or denser so that it's better at holding water.
What are you growing?
Are you starting from scratch and planting seeds or cuttings? Or are you just replanting established plants into raised beds or larger pots? Do you want to grow fruit and vegetables? Or are you looking to grow something more exotic?
As different plant varieties have specific needs, we’ve developed an extensive range to ensure there’s a compost for every growing task. So, if you're keen to give your plants a helping hand, let's help you find the right compost.
Skip to the best compost for...
Keeping your garden green with peat free compost
We want to make sustainable gardening easy, which is why we’ve created a range of Verve and GoodHome composts that are peat free. Digging for peat harms habitats and speeds up climate change – it releases the carbon stored in peatlands into the atmosphere. By using peat free materials to care for your plot, you’re caring for natural wildlife and our planet too. Peat free composts are made of natural materials like wood and coir, making them more environmentally friendly, but without compromising on performance.
I’m looking to grow…
A variety of plants
Multi-purpose compost, also referred to as ‘all purpose’ or ‘universal’, is suitable for many planting jobs in the garden, and contains varying levels of feed that will feed plants from five weeks up to six months. It's available in organic and enriched varieties, and comes in all different sizes.
I’m looking to grow…
Ericaceous plants
Ericaceous compost has been developed to help acid-loving plants like azaleas, camellias and rhododendrons to thrive. Blueberries and raspberries will also flourish in ericaceous compost. It will feed plants for five to 12 weeks.
I’m looking to grow…
Roses, trees, and shrubs
Ideal for more mature plants, rose, tree and, shrub compost has been specially blended to establish strong roots and promote healthy growth. It will feed plants for four to six months.
I’m looking to grow…
Flowers in containers and baskets
Container and basket compost provides the optimum conditions to achieve vibrant, blooming containers and baskets. It has been specially formulated to enhance water retention, meaning less watering is required. It’s enriched with essential plant nutrients which feed from three to six months.
I’m looking to grow…
Seeds and cuttings
Seed and cutting compost gives seeds the best start in life by aiding germination, and helps cuttings to grow roots and flourish. It can feed plants for up to four weeks.
I’m looking to grow…
Bulbs
Using bulb planting compost will help you achieve a vibrant display of indoor or outdoor bulbs. It’s great for both planting and re-potting, and feeds plants for up to eight weeks.
I’m looking to grow…
Fruits and vegetables
Growing your own tasty produce is extremely satisfying. Our grow bags make growing simple, and can be placed just about anywhere – greenhouses, patios and even balconies. They contain high quality compost with high levels of organic matter, and will feed plants from eight weeks to three months.
I’m looking to grow…
Houseplants
Houseplants are great for brightening up any room. Use a houseplant compost to achieve vibrant flowers and greener foliage. There are also composts for specific plant types; cactus, succulent & bonsai compost for healthy foliage, citrus compost for an abundance of healthy citrus fruits, and orchid compost for beautiful, blooming orchids. These will feed plants from eight weeks up to three months.
What else do you need?
We also offer a range of top soils, barks and soil improvers, which work with our composts to provide the optimum growing conditions for plants.
Top soil is the uppermost layer of soil, which is high in nutrients and organic matter. It’s specially screened, graded and weed free. It can be mixed with compost to achieve the optimum soil structure, which can be used to:
- Make new beds and borders
- Prepare or fix lawns
- Improve natural soil where it’s poor or non-existent.
Soil improvers are used to add organic matter into the soil to improve its structure, retain moisture and add vital nutrients.
Bark is used for paths, beds, borders, trees and shrubs to protect plant roots, suppress weeds and aid moisture retention. It has a decorative feel to keep your garden looking tidy, making it the perfect backdrop for happy, healthy plants.
