Neudorff

nowhere near like it was a few years ago. We have brought prices more in line anyway. Compost has always been too cheap for what it does.

“We have started selling Rocketgro peat free which is sourced within 15 miles from us and is proving to be very popular in-store and online. I have used the new compost at home so know how it works and any tricks I pass onto the staff if they don’t garden for when they are getting asked questions. The feed value in the peat free is great and young plants love it, just the watering side is harder as the compost does not change colour like peat does.”

Kevin Turley of Lakeside Plant Centre

comments: “We’ve had a slight increase but nothing major. Compost is on track with last year, but the peat free side has not altered either way. It is mostly ladies who are buying peat free. Our traditional gardeners like what they like which is the likes of Jacks Magic.

“I am always keen to our bit, but it is down to the end consumer what we sell. I have just brought in fatballs in boxes rather than buckets and it has strangely knocked sales a little, I am not sure why as it is priced the same. I am very much a dinosaur and I like what I like but will carry on stocking what customers want and trying to offer all the full mix of options.”

Shane Matthews, Garden Sundries Supervisor at Planters Garden Centre Tamworth and Beth Ingram, Customer

Service Manager told GTN: “We are currently seeing a high proportion of customers asking for and purchasing peat free. Miracle Gro peat free is one of our bestselling lines in compost next to Jack’s Magic and JAB multipurpose which is our entry level compost. We have a varied mix to who is buying it. I would say 60% of sales are to new younger gardeners who also seem to be going for the organic and pesticide free chemicals. “The attitude of our older, more experienced customers is quite negative towards peat-free as I don’t think experienced gardeners are comfortable and confident that they will get the results from the peat-free compost. “There now is really no With the Peat-o-meter in the price difference between amber section, customers peat free and peat-based can easily see that specialist rose growing media compost. A lot of customers contains a level of peat. are not bothered and will just go for the three for £15 JAB multipurpose as that’s the perceived best value. Some customers don’t know what peat is and seem a

Neudorff’s new sustainability report

Neudorff is proud to publish its latest sustainability report – making it one of the few medium-sized companies in the green sector to do so in recent years. The current version of the digital “Magazine for Sustainability 2020” can be found online at www.neudorff.co.uk/sustainability. The report is based on the 17 goals for sustainable development defined by the United Nations.

Sustainability is in Neudorff’ s DNA. The manufacturer of environmentally friendly plant care products has been working assiduously for many years to become increasingly sustainable in all areas of the company. Part of this process has been to define goals and conduct regular reviews on what has already been achieved. The current Magazine for Sustainability informs employees, customers, suppliers and other stakeholders on the company’s activities, its vision and ongoing goals.

A summary of the Neudorfff Sustainability report includes the company’s medium-term goal is to lower its own CO2 footprint, as well as continuing to protect resources by committing to increasing the amount of raw materials it uses that are of a domestic, or even regional, origin. The report also outlines how Neudorfff has also already achieved climate-neutral production at all its facilities through the generation of its own green energy and, where applicable, will continue to offset unavoidable emissions with climate protection certificates. Elsewhere, Neudorff highlights its use of hydropower, photovoltaics and combined heat and power to generate the energy its uses in its manufacturing process, with the report also outlining the company ’ s ongoing conversion of its company vehicle fleet to electromobility.

Additionally, the company takes its responsibilities as an employer very seriously and within the Sustainability report explains more about this, including how each year it provides a training programme for young people, employing, on average, two thirds of them. As a company driven by equality, the report also showcases the proportion of women in managerial positions at Neudorfff , which currentlystands at 35%; 7% higher than the German average according to Statista*.

bit baffled by the amount of range and choice, so we are looking to have more information boards to help customers understand.

“We have had more questions regarding peat free and how to use it correctly. Many new gardeners don’t actually know what peat is, they just read peat free and ask what it is. I also believe we are getting more questions in general because we have a lot of new customers and new gardeners in store.

“We try and find new suppliers with sustainable stories not just in compost but also things like recycled plastic pots, truck tyre edging, bamboo pots and this year will be no different. In terms of compost though, we want to be able to offer our customers the best of both worlds. Some peat and some peat free options.

Colin Dale, Category Head Plants & Gardening, Notcutts Garden Centres told

GTN: “We are over 60% peat free in our sales and it is moving fast. “I think all types of gardeners are concerned about doing the right thing.

“The bad reputation on the old peat-free composts is stopping some people buying and price will also be a factor.

“We will definitely be seeking out even more products with a sustainable story when we visit the trade shows this summer!”

James Debbage, Owner, Green Pastures

Plant Centre says: “We are getting an increasing number of customers asking for and buying peat-free growing media. It’s very much expected as the norm by many customers now compared to two years ago.

“It seems to me that there are two main groups buying peat free. There are the ‘new’, often younger gardeners who probably only started the hobby during lockdown. At the other end of the scale the more experienced gardeners are also ‘giving it a try’ because they feel it’s the right thing to do. In most cases its media influence which is bringing their attention to the issue.

“As well as offering a ‘value’ peat-free option for inexperienced or unsure gardeners, we have very much been concentrating on very premium quality peat-free brands which the experienced gardeners are becoming to know and trust. We have had to cut our margin to try and make it more affordable, but I hope to change this as we build the level of sales. So far, I have been very pleased with how its performing and I will be increasing my range.

“There is still a huge chunk of customers either totally oblivious to the issue or feel it doesn’t really concern them. Trust is also a huge factor as a lot of gardeners still don’t have the confidence in the quality of peat free and just want the best compost. “The questions we normally get come about after somebody has had a bad experience with it.

“I’ve already been adding more products

Helping gardeners find the right products for peat free gardening will be increasingly more important

More information

If you’d like to add your comments about peat free gardening and growing media sales please e-mail trevor@ pottingshedpress.co.uk with a sustainable story this season and will be looking for more.”

The last comment comes from John Ainscow, Owner, Summerseat and Bradley Fold Garden Centres who started us on this journey of understanding the peat

issue back in 2020 : “Peat-free composts are definitely becoming more popular in our neck of the woods including some of the more expensive lines. There’s probably a slight majority of the peat-free buyers who are confirmed gardeners. Habitual repeat buying of the product that a customer knows the name of has a considerable bearing on continued peat usage but price and uncertainty about peat-free products performance has also detracted from their appeal. It should be noted that apart from one peat free compost (Westlands New Horizon) none of our staff can voice an accurate, honest opinion on the performance of the new peat free lines as they are new to all of us. We’ve not had many questions; I think it’s a more a case of let’s give it a go for the sake of the planet.

“If all the peat products are available in 2023 then our range will remain similar, that is more or less 50/50 on facings but new, innovative products will always be of interest. We’ve also had good sales from the Real Soil Company’s product, although more expensive than the usual blended topsoil it seems to ring the same bell that the non-peat brigade listens too.”

Success with peat-free gardening

As well as its peat-o-meter signage Ayletts is leading the way with linked products to help with peat-free growing. Its merchandising unit at the entrance to the growing media area contains various products that will aid growing success.

Haskinshas also picked up on the fact that Westland’s Boost has been specifically developed for peatfree gardening. It has a unique water management system, which effectively ‘makes water wetter’. This almost eliminates leaching, making it better for the environment and is much faster and easier to water.