Digging deeper
BBC Gardeners World|June 2023
Putting the spotlight on the biggest issues in gardening today
SALLY NEX
Digging deeper

Majority of plants sold to be peat-free by 2027

Almost every plant you buy will be peat-free within four years, the UK Government has promised, as it announced it's making most growers ditch peat by the end of 2026-years earlier than previous deadlines.

A ban on peat in bagged compost for amateur gardeners is set to take effect next year. Now professional growers are to be included, too, with an extra three years to allow plants currently growing in peat-based compost to work through the supply chain. Tiny plug plants and some with specialist needs will be exempt from the ban until 2030, and there are likely to be further ongoing exceptions for some plants deemed to be at risk by conservationists.

The news has been greeted with apprehension by some growers. Debs Ednie, who runs specialist plant nursery Ivy Hatch Plant Supplies in Kent, lost thousands of pounds' worth of stock after potting up seedlings into a bad batch of peat-free compost. The manufacturer paid her compensation, but she says committing fully to peat-free is worrying. She's now trialling new peat-free brands each year - but still hasn't found one she fully trusts. "When you're growing on the scale we are you hit problems a lot more frequently than if you're growing for an allotment or garden," she says. She believes some smaller nurseries, already struggling with rising energy and materials costs, may decide it's not worth the trouble. "The older guard will be retiring - they don't need the hassle," she says.

Denne historien er fra June 2023-utgaven av BBC Gardeners World.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra June 2023-utgaven av BBC Gardeners World.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA BBC GARDENERS WORLDSe alt
A new plot for tasty crops
BBC Gardeners World

A new plot for tasty crops

Taking on a new allotment needn't be hard work. By simply following a few easy tips you can have bumper crops in no time, just like Alessandro Vitale

time-read
7 mins  |
July 2024
We love July
BBC Gardeners World

We love July

July is an island floating between the joy of June and the slightly fatigued month of August. It's a grown-up month: the year has shrugged off its adolescent exuberances, the weather is (hopefully) warm enough for ice cream to be one of your five a day, the sea should be swimmable without (too much) danger of hypothermia and thoughts will be of holiday shenanigans and family barbecues. School's out this month, the next tranche of glorious summer colour is washing across our borders and it's my birthday. Lots of reasons to give three rousing cheers for July!

time-read
3 mins  |
July 2024
YOUR PRUNING MONTH
BBC Gardeners World

YOUR PRUNING MONTH

Now, at the height of summer, Frances Tophill shows how to boost your plants' health and productivity with a timely cut

time-read
3 mins  |
July 2024
Hassle-free harvests
BBC Gardeners World

Hassle-free harvests

Flowers are out in abundance this month and for Jack Wallington, many of these blooms make delicious, low-effort pickings

time-read
4 mins  |
July 2024
Bite-sized bounties
BBC Gardeners World

Bite-sized bounties

Glorious doorstep harvests can easily turn into gluts, so let Rukmini Iyer's recipes help you savour every last bit

time-read
3 mins  |
July 2024
Upcycled outdoor living
BBC Gardeners World

Upcycled outdoor living

Create unique and stylish garden features for minimal cost using reclaimed materials and simple DIY skills. Helen Riches shares four step-by-step projects and more inspiring eco tips

time-read
6 mins  |
July 2024
Secrets of a COLOURFUL GARDEN
BBC Gardeners World

Secrets of a COLOURFUL GARDEN

Buildings and landscapes can play a vital role in supercharging your space, as Nick Bailey demonstrates

time-read
4 mins  |
July 2024
Greening up a city balcony
BBC Gardeners World

Greening up a city balcony

Looking for sustainable, small-space gardening ideas? Take inspiration from Oliver Hymans' transformed balcony garden in north-east London - now a lush, green haven for humans and wildlife

time-read
3 mins  |
July 2024
The dry and mighty garden
BBC Gardeners World

The dry and mighty garden

As we adapt our gardens to a more volatile climate, Alan Titchmarsh reveals how to create a drought-tolerant plot and picks his top plant performers

time-read
6 mins  |
July 2024
Nature knows best
BBC Gardeners World

Nature knows best

Carol Klein explains how to choose plants for specific growing conditions, based on what has naturally adapted to thrive there

time-read
5 mins  |
July 2024