Copeland Council Triumphs With Peat Free

	Maverick geraniums grown with peat free

Copeland Borough Council is triumphing having produced another quality crop of summer bedding this year, in particular the Maverick geraniums and Begonia Non-Stop have been grown to an exceptional standard using peat-free compost.  

Two years ago the Cumbria Council decided to phase out peat at its Egremont nursery.  Now all 70,000 bedding plants are grown on using Levington peat free bedding mix.  

The council first experimented with peat free growing media in 2005, with a number of trials being carried out at their nursery. The Park Development Officer, Ruth Walsh was dubious that peat free substrates would provide the sustainable solutions for all the nursery’s needs.  However after trials the parks management team had the confidence to phase out peat composts completely. 

The roots are excellent and as good as any 100% peat product

“The Maverick geranium crop this year is our best so far,” says Ruth Walsh. “The roots are excellent. We now grow on all our annual bedding summer and spring, including Impatiens, Fuschia, Diascia, polyanthus and primula, in this peat free product as well as hanging baskets, tubs, troughs, perennials, shrubs and cuttings.   We where pleasantly surprised to see that the Begonia Non-Stop, which can prove slightly more problematic, has done extremely well.  Some of the plants are destined for the council’s green flag parks, which is the national award for open spaces, one of the important criteria included in the award is peat usage.” 

Ruth goes on to say that, the switch to peat free has been generally straightforward.  “It’s important to mix the Osmocote Exact fertilizer in well with the peat free substrate to ensure an even distribution”.  We have also learnt that while the surface of the bedding substrate can appear to need watering, it takes an experienced trained employee to know when it’s necessary to water. We are lucky that our propagator, Joe Youdale has many years experience which in turn is passed onto our parks trainees.” 

“Having spent several years’ trialing different peat free recipes, Levington peat free bedding mix is a 50% coir and 50% composted bark mix plus the usual base fertilizer, trace elements, lime and wetting agent,” says Scott’s Derek Hampson.   “The Osmocote Exact is a 5 to 6 month formulation designed to give a temperature controlled release exactly when the plants need it throughout the season to ensure they remain at their best.  We recommend it is mixed at a rate of 3kg per m3 of this substrate.”

Copeland Council is the only local authority in Cumbria to retain its own production nursery.   While enjoying their success of producing high quality bedding plants, the 1.5 acre Egremont nursery also supplies plant material too many community and In Bloom groups, parish councils and on occasion, to other local authorities upon request.