Should garden centres do more to help?

Matt Appleby asks whether there is enough guidence on peat-free at point of sale

- Matt Appleby

WITH bagged peat due to be banned from the end of 2024, are garden centres giving extra advice on how to use peat replacement products?

Kent-based eco garden centre Edibleculture’s Dave Ware says many retailers just try and sell as much as possible without offering guidance.

He said: “I don’t know if garden centres really offer advice about usage between peat and peat free. When a garden centre invests in lorry loads of compost it’s (all about) margins and turnover as it’s one of few garden-related products that supermarkets offer competition on.

“Cheap peat-free composts’ growing performance is a big turn-off for home gardeners. As a business we have found a great compost in Melcourt’s Sylvagrow. You very much pay for what you get with peat-free compost.”

Not enough information

Wyevale Nurseries is offering garden centres selling its peat-free plants a downloadable pdf on how to keep them thriving.