As most of you are aware, use of peat compost is bad for the environment as it destroys irreplacable peat bogs.
This is something that has troubled me for sometime and have been looking to switch to peat free for some time now. Trouble is down our way peat free is far more expensive than peat based composts, so it still makes economic sense to continue with peat based products.
For example my nearest independent GC (garden centre) is currently selling peat based compost at £3.99 for around 80 litres. But for peat free they charge 4.99 for only 75 litres 9for the cheapest brand) and the same for 60 litres of a different brand).
Just how can we be encouraged to giveup peat under these circumstances? Peat free should be cheaper than peat based, not dearer!
I absolutely agree, Richard. I get through hundreds of litres of compost a year, as I'm sure many of us do. I'd rather use something that was ecologically sound, but, pragmatically, can't afford to! The compost I use is currently £2.50 for 80ltrs.
Added to which, peat based compost is, for me, the perfect growing medium. I'm not convinced from what I see on the tele that there is anything on offer that is as good. I had a brief fling with Coir, but found it difficult to manage
AC
B&Q's brand, i think, is a reduced peat content compost and is not too expensive...