With my two local suppliers no longer stocking ‘Vital Earth’ Peat-Free and Organic composts and a continuing aversion to ‘New Horizon’ products, for ethical reasons – last week, I purchased a sack of B&Q’s latest branded ‘green’ compost – ‘Verve’ peat-free multipurpose. Big mistake!
Of course my first mistake was assuming this was an organic compost – how many times have I told people “if it doesn’t say it’s organic, it most likely isn’t” – and this certainly doesn’t say it is.
However; being faced with a trip back to B&Q to return it, I thought I might as well open it and give it a try, just to see what it was like. Second mistake!
If there was a prime candidate for the ‘pro-peat lobby’ to use as an example of why they think peat-free is bad – this has to be it. Of course I’ve no idea what it will perform like; but what a truly horrible product to use. It basically has the texture of shredded wood; complete with sizable chunks of partially decomposed wood – the largest of which I have found so-far, was about 3 inches by one inch. I have generally (and of course wrongly) ignored the warnings to wear gloves that are printed on compost bags. But in this case, I’m certainly not putting my hands in there, without protection!
Checking B&Q’s website for further information, produces two customer reviews; one saying “its nice and fine ideal for seed sowing and striking cuttings” and another saying “quite probably the worst compost I have ever purchased. Very disappointing” and “It is rough with some very large pieces of shredded wood and twigs in it”, according more with my own findings.
Given that one of the regular criticisms of peat-free is ‘inconsistency’, I wonder if it may perhaps be the case that I (and the second reviewer) had a dud bag and the ‘norm’ is otherwise. So, the question is, whether anyone else has bought Verve peat-free and what they have found?
Certainly, the rest of mine is going to end-up as mulch in a corner somewhere and I really do not see myself recommending it to anyone else, for anything.
Rochford District Council held a free compost giveaway in Hockley Woods Car Park on Saturday 5th May and we were able to ask staff questions about home composting in a free “compost surgery”. We’ll have some pictures up in a little while. Has anyone else taken advantage of these compost offers yet?
Could not come to the May Day at Trust Link, compost was free there too:( apart from that any ideas where I can get shreeded wood chips?
Try either Rochford District Council customerservices@rochford.gov.uk
Highscapes – daniel@highscapes.co.uk – or
Peter Drake, Box Tree Nursery, Beeches Road, Rawreth SS11 8TG (01268 560056 or 07931 387298
It’s not encouraging news, is it – especially from one of the biggest sellers of compost in the UK? B&Q’s peat-free compost gave me poor to mixed results in my trials in 2011, although I haven’t got into using the new Verve brand as yet. One might just think that B&Q would have the wherewithal to come up with a top-performing peat-free compost – it’s hardly a small player in the game. But then, they did decide to add peat to their ‘topsoil’, so actions do seem to speaking louder than greenwashed words.
John T, let me know where you are based (sharper@vitalearth.tv) and I’ll try and find a local stockist of Vital Earth product for you, also let me know who used to stock the products and doesn’t now and we’ll see if we can get the product back in. Regards. Steve Harper MD @ Vital Earth
Bite Steve Harper’s hand off on this. Vital Earth Multi Purpose has been a top performer in my peat-free compost trials (http://earthfriendlygardener.net/2012/01/24/cutting-rubbish-peat-free-compost-trial-range-results-potting-seed-multipurpose-myth/), and they produce a whole range of peat-frees with none of the ethical dilemmas posed by other peat-free producers. We should all be using pester power to get gardening retailers to stock the peat-free composts we actually want. And we need to tell retailers that just because it says ‘peat-free’ on the bag is no guarantee that it’ll be any good.
Hello, and I’ve checked your website for an Essex supplier and the one in Wickford has since turned into a carpet shop.
Thanks Steve – I’ll email you seperately.
It would certainly be good to find a local Vital Earth supplier – and how refreshing to see a compost manufacturer taking an interest in this website. (Methinks; the power of Twitter?)
replaced my borders with new verve compost now i have got chickweed never had that before wont be buying that again wasted my garden
This is incredibly bad compost. It is amazingly heavy and stains everything black. Plants potted on refuse to strike roots into it and stay locked in their original rootball. The other Verve compost with peat is very good. I have just had a full refund at B&Q when i took the three bags back.
Interesting to hear that it hasn’t got any better Brian.
The additional reviews (after the first two) on the B&Q website, certainly agree with you – see here.
Such a great shame, that a firm with B&Q’s undoubted influence, are happy to stock such a poor product.
For those still wondering about peat-free composts; John Walker’s 2012 articles “Peat-Free Compost: A Buyer’s guide” and “Peat-Free Compost: A User’s Guide” make excellent reads – downloadable from his Earth Friendly Gardener website, here.