wool based compost?

**Aberdeenplotter** · 19-08-2014, 08:22 AM

we got a couple of bags as freebies at the NVS seminar last year for each of us having exhibited at the Scottish Branch show last year. My better half mixed hers half in half with peat to grow her show spuds in. That mix will be scattered over the plot as a soil conditioner after the spuds are harvested. My bag hasn't been opened yet so the jury is out.

**bearded bloke** · 19-08-2014, 10:21 AM

Apparently when broken-down sheep's wool fibres stick to slugs undersides & dry out the slime,least ways that's what Joe Maiden say's about the pelleted version.

**marchogaeth** · 19-08-2014, 10:38 AM

So what does it look like? How much wool is in there and do you think I can use neat fleece, cos that takes years to break down normally? Any idea how it's produced?

**marchogaeth** · 19-08-2014, 10:39 AM

Originally posted by bearded bloke View Post

Apparently when broken-down sheep's wool fibres stick to slugs undersides & dry out the slime,least ways that's what Joe Maiden say's about the pelleted version.

Hmmm well I have to tell you I tried using the "neat stuff" to deter slugs around plants and they just cuddled up under it for warmth and a snack!

**bearded bloke** · 19-08-2014, 10:43 AM

I think the pelleted stuff is made from the wash pit as it also contains sheep poo.

**marchogaeth** · 19-08-2014, 10:43 AM

Our Products | Dalefoot Composts intriguingly vague.... I will have to do some research as we have some serious bracken control to do next year. Any links will be appreciated.

**bearded bloke** · 19-08-2014, 10:49 AM

Made from the "dags" as demonstrated .............

**out in the cold** · 19-08-2014, 05:31 PM

Originally posted by marchogaeth View Post

So what does it look like? How much wool is in there and do you think I can use neat fleece, cos that takes years to break down normally? Any idea how it's produced?

It has quite a lot of bracken chips through it. It feels nice, like a peaty compost mixed with forest mulch...

**solway cropper** · 19-08-2014, 08:26 PM

Composted bracken makes a good peat substitute and is also relatively high in potassium. The forestry commission have done quite a lot of research on it....they have thousands of acres of the stuff.

**marchogaeth** · 19-08-2014, 08:53 PM

Originally posted by bearded bloke View Post

Made from the "dags" as demonstrated ...........

Originally posted by out in the cold View Post

It has quite a lot of bracken chips through it. It feels nice, like a peaty compost mixed with forest mulch...

Originally posted by solway cropper View Post

Composted bracken makes a good peat substitute and is also relatively high in potassium. The forestry commission have done quite a lot of research on it....they have thousands of acres of the stuff.

I was thinking about it while I did all sorts of other stuff today and figured it had to be dags, even fairly ordinary wool is over �1/kg these days but then I saw the price! �10 for 3.5 litres, well, even if a litre weighs a kilo (which it won't) that is impressive processing and marketing! They must do something to the wool though to make it short because it isn't broken down by composting and they are relying on it swelling up in water. Very interesting....... Also, I'd swear that sheep in the video has made up dags, ie the poo has been rubbed on, dags are truly disgusting balls of cr@p hanging all under the tale and down the legs, I thought the beeb weren't supposed to do that these days.

This is seriously tempting fate but I don't have to dag my sheep, really and if I do any tidying I usually put it is a bucket of water and use it as a quick nitrogen feed. I certainly don't have enough to make any difference to the "million tonnes" of bracken I'll have available next year. However, bracken does compost nicely all on it's own so that's what I'll be doing.

**marchogaeth** · 19-08-2014, 09:09 PM

BB seriously edited the post even while you were reading the original!

**marchogaeth** · 20-08-2014, 12:39 PM

Originally posted by out in the cold View Post

The product is called Lakeland Gold, so I probably bought it thinking it sounds like beer lol...

Which you could enjoy, even more maybe ...Lakeland Gold | Beers | Hawkshead Brewery

Originally posted by out in the cold View Post

It has quite a lot of bracken chips through it. It feels nice, like a peaty compost mixed with forest mulch...

Obviously you haven't bought the slug control versions and while it's not cheap it's not ridiculous. As has been said bracken composts well with or without manure and so should do clay soils good like all organic matter. Is it going to be hard to get it down to your clay layer or are the whole beds clayie?

**out in the cold** · 20-08-2014, 05:57 PM

Marchogaeth, the beds lie on top of a fairly heavy clay based soil.

I was thinking that I would put it in my onion bed when I have them all up and then turn it over a bit to try and help matters.

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