Durstons Advanced peat-free collection outstrips leading brands in growing trials

Cutting through a sea of sweeping claims and empty promises from compost producers, Durston Garden Products have the results to ‘back it up’, as their peat-free range outperformed both peat and peat-free competitor products in independent growing trials – producing bigger plants and increased blooms.

Durstons independently tested and trialled the formulations across their entire game-changing peat-free range to ensure they would deliver a reliable and repeatable positive growing experience for gardeners… and the results did not disappoint!

Within the trials, overseen by peat-free expert Simon Blackhurst (SJBQC Ltd), the Durstons Advanced Peat-free Compost range performed well across the board, leaving competitor products behind in terms of plant size and health, and number of blooms.

Highlights include Durstons Advanced Peat-Free Multi-Purpose Compost, which:

·       achieved over 70% bigger plants than a professional peat-reduced product on the market

·       outperformed both peat and peat-free competitor products on the market

·       increased blooms by 50%

Another stand out in the trials was their Advanced Peat-Free Tub & Basket Compost, which:

·       achieved over 150% bigger plants than a professional peat-reduced product

·       outperformed both peat-based and peat-free competitors on the market

·       increased blooms by 50%

Durstons’ remarkable collection of composts is formulated using their unique additives, Gro Boost and Gro Fibre – revolutionary ingredients that are exclusive to Durstons in the UK – and enhanced with a nutrient package that provides 14 vital nutrients plus feed that lasts up to 3-4 months.

Top-performing ingredients

The incorporation of Gro Fibre, which is made from a single species of pine, helps create a consistently fluffy compost that won’t shrink or slump, making it a pleasure to grow with. Gro Fibre also supports moisture retention and doesn’t lock nutrients, unlike some other peat-free growing media on the market. The end result is a compost that delivers a reliably impressive performance, year in, year out!

Meanwhile, Gro Boost is made from high quality composted materials and produced locally at Durstons’ site. It has a strong water holding capacity, boasts a beneficial microbiological profile together with both major and minor nutrients, is 100% natural and renewable, and is vegan friendly.

The result is an outstanding peat-free compost that provides better air space and greater moisture availability, enabling plants to establish strong roots, quickly.

Seeing off the competition

The ability of Durstons’ peat-free range to deliver consistently impressive results and easily outperform competitor products is a huge win for gardeners looking for a reliable way to grow successfully without peat.

Discussing the trials, ‘compost connoisseur’ Simon Blackhurst said: “One of the biggest problems with peat-free is nutrient availability, with Nitrogen often becoming ‘locked up’ and, therefore, not available to the plant when the compost is used. However, this is not an issue with Durstons’ new peat-free range, thanks to the patented process used to produce Gro Fibre.

“The composts performed exceptionally well in the trials, and the inclusion of Gro Fibre made a significant contribution. The use of a single species of tree means Durstons are able to offer a consistent raw material, whereas some other brands are reliant on several different supply chains, which can cause variability in stability, chemical profile and fibre size. Durstons are extremely excited about the results of the trials and the range they have formulated.”

Durstons Director, Dan Durston said: “The results of the independent growing trials just confirm what we already knew about the strength of this range and reaffirm our confidence in its ability to make a difference to gardeners with their growing endeavours.

“We are wholly committed to helping gardeners move away from using peat by providing them with a high-performance compost they can rely on and enjoy using. We have spent a long time developing our Advanced range and can promise consistency in terms of texture, appearance and results. These aren’t empty words – we have the results to back them up – and we know gardeners will love it when they use it.”

A little bit of science…

Nitrogen lock-up is a major issue with many peat-free composts on the market due to natural decomposition of wood-based raw materials via microbes in the substrate. Their life cycle locks Nitrogen, which is then not available to the plant when the compost is used. Some products now claim to use ‘stabilised’ wood fibres to prevent this, but industry experts are still seeing nutrient deficiencies in mixes.

Find out more

Durstons have been established for over 150 years. Find out more at www.durstongardenproducts.co.uk or call 01458 442688.

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Editors notes

For over 150 years Durstons have been innovating, evolving and diversifying their Somerset-based business to meet the demands of their customers. Today they’re focused on paving the way for the future of compost – and the results speak for themselves with their peat free range proven to deliver up to 70% more growth than standard mixes. This performance is thanks to Durstons’ passion for a sustainable, cost-effective product for customers, alongside a ‘no compromise’ approach to quality. Durstons have invested in their operations, are committed to the best responsibly sourced ingredients, and to delivering reliable and personal service. All mixes are rigorously tested to ensure consistent, trusted performance.