bulk compost?

[leah]

hello,

after already spending about �40 on compost so far this year, I need lots more! To pot on all the toms, chillis and peppers and hopefully to fill a 4ft by 9ft raised bed

Our car is off the road at the moment and the pushchair was making some funny noises with a 60l bag in the basket bit

I can't seem to find anywhere that will do a bulk drop off at my doorstep. I don't mind wheeling it around the back. If I'm going to have to spend another �40 odd on more compost plus pay for friends petrol, surely it would be a better option to bulk buy if I can find somewhere that does it and then hopefully at a reasonable price

[chris]

rolawn do topsoil, try one of their channel partners, such as Jewson, etc - they'll delivery cubic meter bags.. I think I got a quote for �80 delivered (I think, can't really remember) - it around around that anyway. 1m3 is roughly a tonne of compost depending on how wet/dry it is, but that's a much more economical way of buying it. I think they also do compost, but if you're filling beds I'd say go for their "Blended Loam" mix - it's cheaper than their "Vegetable/Fruit growing" product, and it was what they recommended before they brought the later product onto the market.

Turf, Topsoil, Bark Mulch & Soil Improver from Rolawn, Suppliers of Britain's Finest Turf

Their site will show you how much you need too. I think the Wickes may be a partner too, I can't remember.

[FoxHillGardener]

I use these CPL Creative Garden Ideas. Minimum order of �30 but then they deliver for free.

[chris]

Ah, goto the product you want, and then click "nearest supplier" near the bottom of the page - that's where I got my info from. I remember now, direct from rolawn was �110+VAT, and Jewsons were �80+VAT delievered.

I cheaped out and bought from a local top soil supplier, but it was really, really bad. I paid �80 for 2.5 tonnes delivered and it really was bad. Full of rubble, glass and plastic. You're going to be eating from this stuff, so I'd suggest getting the best stuff you can, or if not, dig in as much improver that you can.

[chris]

I use these CPL Creative Garden Ideas. Minimum order of �30 but then they deliver for free.

Looking at: Murphy Multi Purpose Compost 70ltr | Murphy Multi Purpose Compost UK | Murphy Multi Purpose Plant Compost | CPL Creative Garden Ideas

Their half pallet works out at 5.6p/l which isn't that cheap really.. I think B&Q's 4 for a fiver jobby works out at 3.4p/l ? Still, they do deliver - which is good as I've loaded 20 odd bags of compost in my car before and scraped the underside of it when driving up my driveway!

[FoxHillGardener]

Looking at: Murphy Multi Purpose Compost 70ltr | Murphy Multi Purpose Compost UK | Murphy Multi Purpose Plant Compost | CPL Creative Garden Ideas

Their half pallet works out at 5.6p/l which isn't that cheap really.. I think B&Q's 4 for a fiver jobby works out at 3.4p/l ? Still, they do deliver - which is good as I've loaded 20 odd bags of compost in my car before and scraped the underside of it when driving up my driveway!

The delivery is what swings it for me. I don't have a car so anyone who will bring it to my doorstep without charging the earth is my friend

[leah]

thank you to you both

I've just phoned jewsons and it is �83 per bag with has approx 1000ltrs, which would make it 0.083p per ltr??

Quite a lot to shell out in one go for me, might have to stick to wikes 4 for �12

[FoxHillGardener]

thank you to you both

I've just phoned jewsons and it is �83 per bag with has approx 1000ltrs, which would make it 0.083p per ltr??

Quite a lot to shell out in one go for me, might have to stick to wikes 4 for �12

It would be good to have so much on hand, but you need to find somewhere to store it where it doesn't get rained on. A 1000 litre bag would be difficult to move

I've had a couple of deliveries of mushroom compost where they tip a load on the drive and we lugged it up the garden in trugs. Too may steps for using a wheelbarrrow. That was fun!

[leah]

Does mushroom compost cost a lot? I've been told it is good to use?

[FoxHillGardener]

I think it was �68 for a load which is about 1400 litres - about one and a half bulk bags once we'd transferred it.

It's good for clay soil as it contains gypsum which helps the clay floculate (I love that word), forming grains and improving soil structure

[zazen999]

Leah - we don't know where you are as your location isn't in your profile; however have you tried a local nursery. They might deliver to you for a nominal fee.