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Welcome to the Garden Guru!

You will find lots of useful information on compost, composting and all things grow your own, from hints and tips to step by step how to guides on all sorts of interesting subjects.

Browse through all our garden guru's articles below to find the subject you are interested in.

If the article you  are looking for is not here, just ask The Compost Shop Garden Guru and he will get back to you as quickly as possible with the answers you are looking for!

Palletised Delivery Service

Businesses in the trade rely on our delivery service and we provide companies across the UK with the best quality compost, topsoil and manure; always on time.

We have a thorough and efficient method of handling and transporting supplies, delivering bulk loads nationwide through a fleet of 30 tonne articulated loads.

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John Innes Compost

John Innes Compost No.1, 2 & 3

John Innes Compost’s contain a mixture of loam, sand, grit and fertiliser. Each of the John Innes Compost’s are produced, in various ratios, to produce a more specific compost. All of the John Innes Compost’s are soil based.

Buy John Innes Compost

What do we use it for?

The main purposes for John Innes are; sowing of seeds and rooting cuttings, large seed sowing, pricking out, potting up, final potting and mature plants. All of the John Innes products, simply offer a different level of nutrients to boost initial growth all the way until the final result. Our most popular compost, John Innes no3 compost is a rich mixture that is intended for final potting or for the re-potting of mature plants. If you want a general potting compost for everyday use, then John Innes no2 compost is perfect. John Innes no2 has excellent soil structure, and includes sand which promotes drainage and provides stability for larger plants. A perfect everyday compost.

What is it made of?

Loam - Loam is the most important ingredient in all John Innes compost, supplying the main body of the compost. The loam supplies the nutrition needed for the base of the plant, which helps to absorb and release plant nutrients as required. The loam also contains micro-elements and organic matter, which provides a slow release of Nitrogen to the plant.

Peat - Sphagnum Moss Peat in the John Innes Compost increases the total porosity and improves both the aeration and the water-retaining capacity. Peat decomposes slowly into humus.

Sand - The coarse sand or grit is used as a physical conditioner to allow excess water to drain from the compost and thus prevent water-logging. It also helps to provide stability for larger plants.

Fertilser - The compound fertiliser in John Innes Compost provides a wide spectrum of plant nutrients needed for balanced growth, including :- Nitrogen (for top growth Phosphates - for root growth) - Potash (for flowering and fruiting & Trace Elements for optimal growth, colour and flavor.

***Nutrients are typically sufficient for 1-2 months of growing, after which time additional proprietary feed should be given***

What are the different types of John Innes used for?

All John Innes Composts contain traces of limestone, hoof and horn meal, superphosphate, potassium sulphate.

John Innes Compost No 1

For pricking out or potting-up young seedlings or rooted cuttings. This compost has a carefully balanced nutrient content to suit most young plants and allow them to grow. This John Innes compost is perfect for a young garden to make it thrive!

John Innes No 2 Compost

For general potting of most house plants and vegetable plants into medium size pots or boxes. John Innes no2 contains double the amount of nutrients found in John Innes No 1 to suit established plants. John Innes no 2 compost is the perfect everyday compost for your garden to ensure they are well nourished and well supported.

John Innes No 3 Compost

This is a richer mixture for final re-potting of gross feeding vegetable plants, and for mature foliage plant. Also shrubs and interior planters, or outdoor containers. This extra-rich blend of sandy loam, peat and fertiliser make John Innes no 3 compost a perfect addition to plants that have been well-established in your house or garden. We offer quick delivery on all of our John Innes compost products. For more information on compost delivery or to see how you can buy John Innes composts in bulk, contact us today.

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Choosing Plants for a Perennial Container

Many people are very comfortable planting up containers with annual planting, such as summer bedding, but how about planting up a container with perennials? The considerations for what to put in are rather different, because your plants may well grow more slowly, but eventually reach much larger sizes. But the rewards are a display that grows and changes year by year, and much more variety of planting than is possible with an annual display. Here are our top tips for choosing plants for a perennial container display. Don't forget you can visit our Grow Your Own section for all the tools and equipment you need to get started. 

Read more …Choosing Plants for a Perennial Container