Mushroom Compost - Bulk Bag x 2
Mushroom compost is used as a soil conditioner and a mulch. High in organic matter, it enhances the structure of your soil and provides nutrients for healthy plants. It’s slightly alkaline, and should not be used with ericaceous plants, which thrive in acid soils.
What is mushroom compost?
Mushroom compost, often called spent mushroom compost, is a by-product of the edible mushroom industry. Mushroom farmers cultivate mushrooms on a blend of composted straw and well-rotted animal manure – usually horse and chicken manure.
Why should you use mushroom compost?
Use mushroom compost to improve your soil so that it provides the air, moisture and nutrients that plants need to grow well.
Mushroom compost is high in organic matter, which enhances all soils, from heavy clay to light, free draining sand. Organic matter improves the structure and aeration of soil, at the same time creating greater moisture-retaining and drainage capability.
Mushroom compost also provides the nutrients that plants need to grow well. The three main plant nutrients found in the soil are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, while magnesium, calcium and sulphur are also important. These nutrients work together to help plants grow strongly and produce flowers and fruit. They are particularly important on the vegetable patch as vegetable crops need a lot of nutrients. Invertebrates, bacteria and fungi in the soil work together to break down organic matter such as dead plant material and manure to make these nutrients available to plant roots.
Mushroom compost is slightly alkaline, with a pH of 6.5-7, which is suitable for a wide range of ornamental plants. It is also good for a wide range of vegetables, including brassicas (vegetables in the cabbage family), as the higher pH defends against club root, and tomatoes, as the higher calcium levels act against blossom end rot).
Where should you use mushroom compost?
Use mushroom compost as a general mulch, spreading a 5cm layer on flower beds, herbaceous and shrub borders and around young trees and specimen shrubs. Mushroom compost can also be used to improve waterlogged or clay soils as well as light, free-draining soils.
Use mushroom compost as a 5cm deep mulch on your vegetable beds and allotment, but not on soft fruit, such as blueberries, raspberries and currants, which need neutral to acid conditions.
