âBuying quantities of bagged
Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: ⢠Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own.
Did you know?
Adding homemade garden compost to your soil will help improve its structure and biodiversity.
Here's what youâll need to make your own compost mix:
Tools
A shovel
A garden sieve (or metal colander)
Gloves
An old compost bag to store leftover mixture
Ingredients
Garden soil â adds stability to your mix and its particles hold on to water and
nutrientsTo grow well, plants need a wide range of nutrients in various amounts, depending on the individual plant and its stage of growth. The three key plant nutrients usually derived from soil are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, while carbon, oxygen and hydrogen are absorbed from the air. Other vital soil nutrients include magnesium, calcium and sulphur. Gardeners can add nutrients by applying fertilisers (either artificial or naturally derived) to boost plant growth and improve flowering and fruiting.
Organic matter, like homemade garden compost, leafmould or well-rotted manure â adds nutrients as its broken down and creates air spaces so roots can breathe
âSharp sand or grit â to improvedrainage
Top Tip
Itâs best not to use garden soil that contains any troublesome weeds like oxalis, horsetail or ground elder as they can spread easily in the compost to your containers.
