Garden Doctor > Compost

Questions

Can I use your standard multi purpose compost for all my plants?

The compost in my hanging baskets and pots dries out too quickly in the summer and then the water runs off when I try to water, is there anything I can do to stop this?

What is so special about Ericaceous compost and why is it good for acid loving plants?

What is the best compost to use when planting seeds?

I have a small garden without a greenhouse and would like to grow some vegetables, what can I grow on the patio?

I want to use less peat in and around my garden, but when I've used some other peat free composts I haven't had very good results, what can you offer?

I grow lots of plants in pots and need a reliable compost that performs well. What should I choose to use?

Answers

Can I use your standard multi purpose compost for all my plants?
You can use Westland Multi-Purpose Compost for most garden plants, but with the specific exception of ericaceous plants as these need acidic conditions. Most Multi-Purpose Composts have lime added to them to increase the pH as this creates the ideal environment for most plants to grow. Specialist ericaceous composts do not have lime added, and this means their pH is lower, i.e. more acidic, and perfect for the growth of acid loving plants.

The compost in my hanging baskets and pots dries out too quickly in the summer and then the water runs off when I try to water, is there anything I can do to stop this?
Plants grown in baskets and containers are at the mercy of the sun and drying winds and do dry out much more quickly. To alleviate this problem, you need to choose a good quality compost that is specially designed for containerised plants. Westland Container & Hanging Basket Compost is specially designed to provide the ultimate growing conditions for container grown plants. This tried and tested formulation contains added John Innes that retains and releases nutrients and water to your plants for longer. The compost also contains a special water retaining gel that helps to reduce water loss from pots and baskets and lessens the need for frequent watering.
The compost also contains the new, revolutionary West+ which makes the compost much freer to drain and easier to rewet. The results are healthy plant roots and stronger plants that will flower more readily. The compost is also lighter than conventional mixes, so it is easier to handle and lift.

What is so special about Ericaceous compost and why is it good for acid loving plants?
Westland has two sorts of Ericaceous compost for acid loving plants. Both formulations are free from lime, which creates an acidic environment around plant roots. Ericaceous plants hate limey soil and cannot grow to their full potential in the presence of lime. The John Innes Ericaceous compost is a loam-based compost, so it is heavier and grittier than the Rhododendron, Azalea & Camellia Compost with added John Innes. This compost is ideal for container plants because it helps the drainage and acts as ballast, weighting down the planter in stormy weather. This advanced nutrient-rich compost is an ideal general-purpose compost for most young plants, providing the correct growing conditions for optimum growth. It contains loam (John Innes), formulated to hold water and nutrients for longer and perlite to improve the compost structure and allow adequate air movement around the roots. Most other composts that are not branded as ericaceous will contain lime which is not suitable for acid loving plants.

What is the best compost to use when planting seeds?
Provided that you always use fresh, clean Multi-Purpose compost it is a perfectly good medium for growing most seeds. It is particularly ideal if you are new to gardening as it is suitable for all sorts of tasks and means you can achieve a lot of things with just one bag of compost. Multi-Purpose Compost will product excellent results with most types of seed, and especially easy to grow varieties, however as it is formulated for most garden uses it may not be the best choice for specialist seeds and seeds that are tricky to grow. A dedicated seed compost such as John Innes Seed or Seed & Cutting Compost is recommended for this function. These composts contain added ingredients such as horticultural sand or grit that not only improve the drainage, essential to avoid fungal rots, but also gently graze the surface of the seed to encourage germination. John Innes Seed and John Innes Seed & Cutting Compost have the exact nutrient levels needed to support the seedlings through the first stages of life without scorching the delicate roots.

I have a small garden without a greenhouse and would like to grow some vegetables, what can I grow on the patio?
You don't need a huge garden to grow a few vegetables for the home. There are plenty that can be grown in big pots on the patio or terrace. The bigger the container the better, as it will hold more compost and the volume of compost available to grow your plants in is closely related to the quality and quantity of the crop you will produce. For great results use the Instant Planter which is more than a grow bag because it is much deeper and contains a great deal more compost. The Instant Planter in effect becomes a new mini border and is specially designed for growing edible crops such as tomatoes, potatoes, French beans, salad crops or even some herbs. The Instant Planter contains quality compost with a superior mix of nutrients, water retaining granules and plenty of organic matter to support strong and healthy plants. For sun loving crops such as tomatoes and peppers position the planters against a south-facing wall so that they benefit from the best of the sunshine. Ensure that there are plenty of drainage holes in the base of the planter and always keep well watered for the best results. Feed developing vegetables weekly with Feed-All Dilute N' Grow or Organic Tomato & Vegetable Food.

I want to use less peat in and around my garden, but when I've used some other peat free composts I haven't had very good results, what can you offer?
Westland is an expert in garden health and has invested vast amounts of time and money into researching and developing each and every product in its range. It's Peat Free Multi-Purpose Compost with added John Innes is no exception; this quality compost contains the very best ingredients. It is a revolutionary peat-free compost that combines the exceptional performance characteristics of Peat Free Multi-Purpose with added John Innes with a rich blend of natural ingredients that replaces peat without any loss of performance. It has been thoroughly tested by the Westland experts to ensure that it's performance is consistently as good, if not better, than the standard Multi-Purpose Compost formulation, so you can be confident of excellent results.

I grow lots of plants in pots and need a reliable compost that performs well. What should I choose to use?
Consider the new Westland Container and Hanging Basket Compost with added John Innes. It is specially designed to provide the ultimate growing conditions for container grown plants. This tried and tested formulation contains added John Innes that retains and releases nutrients and water to your plants for longer. The compost also contains a special water retaining gel that helps to reduce water loss from pots and baskets and lessens the need for frequent watering.
The compost also contains the new, revolutionary West+ which makes the compost much freer to drain and easier to rewet. The results are healthy plant roots and stronger plants that will flower more readily. The compost is also lighter than conventional mixes, so it is easier to handle and lift.