Melcourt SylvaGrow 100% Peat Free Multi Purpose Compost 40Ltr

A unique blend of fine bark, woodfibre (by-products of sustainably managed British forests) and coir (from known, ethically-approved sources). It contains balanced nutrients sufficient for the first 4 - 6 weeks of growth. This growing medium is based on one widely used throughout the UK by professional growers and is suitable for a wide range of uses around the garden. Melcourt SylvaGrow Multi-purpose contains no peat or green waste compost.

• Superb quality, 100% peat-free compost as used by professionals
• Suitable for a wide range of garden applications including potting-on, planting out and as a growing bag
• RHS endorsed
• Audited by the Responsible Sourcing Scheme
• Suitable for vegans

Seed Sowing:
• Fill a seed tray evenly with SylvaGrow, tapping gently to settle
• Lightly water with a fine rose
• Sow the seeds carefully, according to the packet instructions, cover with more SylvaGrow to a depth as directed
• Cover the seed tray with glass or polythene and put in a warm place out of direct sunlight
• Remove the cover when the seeds have germinated and ensure the SylvaGrow is kept evenly moist at all times
• Prick out as soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle
NB For very small seeds such as Begonia or Impatiens, sieve the SylvaGrow before use to remove the larger particles, which can otherwise impede seedling development.

Pricking Out
• When the seedlings are large enough to handle, gently tease them out of the growing medium using a dibber or pencil, taking care to handle only by the leaves.
• Fill a suitable pot with fresh SylvaGrow®, use a dibber to make a hole and place the seedling in it, tapping the pot to settle the mix around the roots
• Water gently but thoroughly
• After four to six weeks, regularly apply a liquid feed, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Alternatively, at the time of pricking out, incorporate slow-release fertilizer granules according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Potting on, containers, tubs, troughs, hanging baskets and house plants
• First, ensure that the plant to be potted on has been well-watered. If it is dry, immerse the roots in a bucket of water for half an hour
• Fill the pot, tub or other container with SylvaGrow Multi-purpose
• Make a hole large enough to accommodate the item to be potted and insert it, taking care that the growing medium is at about the same height on the stem as previously
• Gently firm the SylvaGrow around the plant, water thoroughly
• Ensure that the SylvaGrow is kept moist but not over-wet, at all times. Hanging baskets have a particularly high water requirement and may need watering every day in warm weather
• After four to six weeks, regularly apply a liquid feed, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Alternatively, at the time of potting incorporate slow-release fertilizer granules according to the
manufacturer’s instructions.
Cuttings
• Ensure the mother plant is well-watered before taking cuttings
• Fill a deep seed tray or pot with SylvaGrow® and make a suitable hole with a dibber or pencil
• Prepare the stem or root cuttings according to type, ensuring that they are not allowed to dry out between cutting and inserting. Dip in hormone rooting powder/liquid if using
• Insert the cutting and gently firm the medium around it
• Stem cuttings need to be in a moist environment out of direct sunlight until they have rooted so either place in a cold frame, a covered propagator or cover with polythene, using supports to prevent the polythene from touching the cuttings. Root cuttings can be placed in a cold frame or sheltered spot out of direct sunlight and can benefit from a thin layer of grit on the growing medium surface
• Once the cuttings are well-rooted they can be potted on according to the instructions above
Raised Beds
SylvaGrow Multi-purpose can be used as part of a raised bed medium for vegetable and strawberry growing. Simply mix 1 part SylvaGrow Multi-Purpose thoroughly with 3 to 4 parts loam or garden soil to gain a valuable addition of organic matter and nutrients.
Remember to supplementary feed as instructed above in ‘Potting On’ as vegetables are heavy feeders and will respond well.
Planting Out
SylvaGrow Multi-Purpose can be used as a planting medium for roses, shrubs, trees, herbaceous perennials and bedding plants in order to add valuable organic matter and nutrients. Simply blend at 1 part to 4 parts of the back-fill soil. Always ensure that the plant is watered to capacity before planting out and if necessary, immerse the roots in a bucket of water for half an hour prior to planting. Ensure that the planting pit is well-integrated with the wider soil with no smeared
sides or other impediments to root exploration beyond the planting hole.
Lime-hating, ericaceous plants
SylvaGrow Multi-purpose is not suitable for raising lime-hating, ericaceous plants
in containers.  For these we recommend SylvaGrow Ericaceous although it can be used as a planting out medium for an ericaceous soil at rates of 1 part SylvaGrow® to 4 parts acidic soil.

We are a family run, independent Garden Centre, Farm Shop and Restaurant combined. We are proud to offer the very best gardening, home and outdoor living products alongside delicious, fresh, locally produced food and drink.

Awarded 'Best Garden Centre in the UK in 2018 & 2021 you can rest assured that we offer excellent products, plants and customer service.

Learn more about us and our story on the 'About Us' page.

Collect your order in store or have it delivered to your front door!

Our aim is to dispatch the goods as quickly as possible using experienced mainstream couriers.

Your Questions Answered...

What are the delivery options and prices?

We offer both a Standard 3-5 working day delivery service and a faster 1-2 working day delivery service for a small additional charge.

Postable items such as packets of seeds, gift cards etc. will be delivered using Royal Mail and have a delivery charge of £2.95.

Smaller, lighter items have delivery charges range between £4.95 – £6.95.

Larger, heavier and fragile items have delivery charges range between £9.95 – £19.95

Pallet deliveries for items such as furniture start at £69.95 (see further information about kerbside pallet deliveries below).

An accurate delivery charge will be calculated on the checkout page, once you’ve added all the products you would like to purchase.

How do I track my delivery?

Once your order has been booked in you will receive an email from the courier with information.

How fast is delivery?

Orders are dispatched within one working day of it being placed. Our standard delivery time is between 3-5 working days and our express delivery time is 1-2 working days (excluding weekends & bank holidays).

Who will deliver my order?

We have a selection of different couriers we offer for delivery depending on the size and weight of the parcel. Your order will either be delivered by Royal Mail, Evri or Parcelforce. Furniture sets or large items will be delivered using a kerbside pallet delivery service.

What is a kerbside pallet delivery service?

Most of our furniture sets and some larger or heavy items such as compost will be delivered using wooden pallets. These pallets will be delivered using a heavy goods vehicle and will need plenty of room to deliver as well as needing someone to sign for the delivery.

Kerbside delivery means that pallets will be delivered to the nearest kerbside at the address specified. The driver will position their vehicle as close as possible to the delivery address and unload the palletised goods into a spot on the kerbside that is safe and keeps the pallet secure. This is to ensure the safety of the driver, the customer and the general public. The driver will not be able to wheel the delivery across any uneven surface such as grass, gravel or up or down steps and will not unload the items from the pallet or take the pallet away with them.

With a kerbside pallet delivery service, we are able to select a specific date for delivery which best suites you. Once an order has been placed, we will contact you to discuss your preferred delivery date.

If there are any possible access issues for a larger vehicle to your address please inform us in order for us to make alternative arrangements.

What do I do if my order has arrived damaged?

If you order arrives damaged from it’s journey in transit, please email an image showing the damage to the item along with your order number for us to rectify the issue. We must be notified of any damage within 24 hours of being delivered.

Do you deliver to Northern Ireland?

We do deliver to Northern Ireland, some larger or heavier items may have a surcharge. Unfortunately, we are currently unable to ship plants to Northern Ireland.

What is the warranty on an item I purchase?

Any goods sold by us will have the benefit of the manufacturer’s warranties, which will be for 12 months unless otherwise stated. All warranties are subject to the manufacturer’s terms and conditions. Any defective goods returned to us within the manufacturer’s warranty period will be repaired or replaced at the sole discretion of the manufacturer and will be subject to compliance with the terms of their warranty. All other warranties and guarantees are expressly excluded so far as the law permits.

Do any areas of the UK incur a delivery surcharge?

Delivery addresses in the following areas may require additional delivery charge. If additional delivery charge is required we will contact you immediately. The following areas which may require additional shipping charge can be found below:

Channel Islands
Northern Ireland
Scottish Highlands
Scottish Islands
Isle of Man
Isle of Wight
Scilly Isles
Any further questions? If you need to reach us, use the enquiry form on the contact us page, call us on 01497 847055 or email us at shoponline@oldrailwaylinegc.co.uk.

How do I return an item?

If a purchase is no longer required you are able to return the goods within 28 days of delivery for a full refund in accordance with our refunds policy set out in Clause 10 of our Terms & Conditions. We will refund any money received from you using the same method originally used by you to pay for your purchase. Please make sure that you include the sales order or invoice with your return.

When returning items to us, please ensure that any and all original packaging, instructions, tags etc are included as supplied to you. We recommend using a recorded/insured service to return your order. The Old Railway Garden Centre cannot be held responsible for returned items lost or damaged in transit to us.