Improve growing conditions by understanding the soil and compost you use. Browse home-composting systems, leaf mould, mulch, soil testing and soil improvement, alongside peat-free mixes, potting ingredients and refreshing container compost. The guides explain how to choose, make, store and use these materials.
No-dig vegetable beds use cardboard and a thick organic mulch to smother weeds and feed soil. Learn how to start a bed, choose mulch, plant immediately, and manage weeds with shallow hoeing, annual top-ups and edge care.
Old container compost slumps and loses structure as organic matter breaks down. Refreshing it means removing spent material from around the rootball and replacing it with fresh peat-free compost, without necessarily moving to a larger pot. This guide explains when and how to do it.
Perlite and vermiculite are both lightweight mineral granules, but they do opposite jobs in a potting mix. Perlite creates air spaces and improves drainage; vermiculite absorbs water and keeps compost moist. Choosing the right one depends on whether your mix is too wet or too dry.
A compost tumbler makes turning easier but has a smaller capacity and no direct soil contact. A stationary bin holds more waste and lets worms in, but turning is harder. Choose based on your garden’s waste volume, your physical ability and how quickly you want finished compost.
A soil pH test tells you whether your garden is acid, neutral or alkaline, which determines which plants will thrive. This guide explains when to test, how to sample, what DIY kits and lab tests show, and how to interpret the number to adjust soil or choose plants.
Mature garden compost is dark brown, crumbly and soil-like, with a smell like damp woodland. Check the centre of the heap, sieve out any uncomposted bits, and return them to the bin. Readiness takes six months to two years depending on conditions.
