Soil, Fertilisers and Composts

Links to gardening websites with information on soils, fertilisers and garden composts. Plus free plans for a number of compost bins and a list of suppliers.

Specific page on gardeningdata.co.uk:

Alternatives to peat in gardening - the different options available to avoid using peat.

Composting guide.

Composting using a bin.

Different types of soil - what you have and how to improve it.

Green and Brown composting materials - a guide on how to classified different materials.

Green manures - the different green manures to grow and dig in.

Home composting - Composting explained.

John Innes compounds - the different John Innes mixtures.

Mulching - the different types of material available to mulch your soil.

Mulching - the how and when to use.

Nettle Manure - how to make and use this free and organic manure.

Organic Manures - the different types of organic manure available.

General Soil & Compost Information:

Soils:

Soil types explained - Soil types and taking a soil sample - (doctorgreenfingers.co.uk)
Improving Clay Soil - FAQ outlining the basic procedure for improving the quality, texture and fertility of a heavy garden soil

Composts & Fertilisers:

Auld Maclaren's Guide to Traditional Composting
Compost - 2 recipes used by Isaac Emmerton in 1815 (stosyth.gov.uk)
Nettle Manure - how to make it and use it.

Organic Compost:

Compost Making and Organic Gardens (envocare.co.uk)
Making organic compost (gardenadvice.co.uk)
Nettle Manure - how to make it and use it.

Free plans for compost bins:

Compost Bin (Stackable)

Composter (Rotating Barrel) - RRFB Nova Scotia

Two-Can Bioreactor Compost Bin - Cornell University

Wood and Wire 3-Bin System - North Caroline Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Worm Composting Bin

Soil & compost suppliers:

Lakeland Gold - (Cumbria) A well balanced, peat free soil conditioner full of rich organic material. - (dalefootcomposts.co.uk)
Plantglo - The Ultimate Liquid Plant Fertilizer. This clean, nearly colorless, concentrated aqueous solution will benefit all of your plants. Recommended for House Plants Flowers Vegetables Fruits Shrubs Trees. (plantglo.com)
Springbridge Direct - We supply primarily Topsoils, Composts, Barks, Aggregates and Turf either loose or in bulk bags. We can supply anywhere in the UK and are happy to deal with small retail customers up to large national and multi-national companies.
Wiggly Wigglers - (Herefordshire) Offers worms and wormeries on-line plus bird boxes and feed etc. (wigglywigglers.co.uk)
Worm City - On line suppliers of worms, wormeries and related products.
Worms Direct UK - (Nr Maldon Essex) Supplier of worms, wormeries and related products.