Caption: House Beautiful award logo 2014
SECOND PRESTIGIOUS AWARD NOD FOR CUMBRIAN PEAT FREE COMPOST MAKER
Cumbria’s Dalefoot Composts has been shortlisted for the second year running in the prestigious House Beautiful Awards – this time for its ‘ewe-nique’ peat free compost for acid-loving plants.
Nominated in the best garden product category, Dalefoot’s Ericaceous Wool Compost Potting Mix has been shortlisted alongside six other garden must-haves from well-known manufacturers such as John Lewis and Cuprinol. Winners will be revealed at a ceremony at London’s Science Museum on 13 November. Last year Dalefoot’s Wool Compost for Seeds was also shortlisted.
The recently launched sustainable compost, perfect for heathers, rhododendrons, blueberries, camellias and azaleas ingeniously combines the totally natural ericaceous properties of wild bracken from the acidic areas of the Lakeland fells with the nutrient and moisture-packed benefits of sheep’s wool. Designed to help environmentally-aware gardeners who want to grow acid-loving plants but up until now have found it hard to get a good peat free ericaceous potting compost, Dalefoot’s product has an ideal pH level of 5.3. The compost is ready to use so can be used directly in pots or tubs for the perfect acidic, peat-free growing medium.
As most ericaceous and acid-loving plants are shallow rooted, they are prone to drying out during prolonged dry periods and so it is very important to retain moisture where it is needed most – around the roots. This compost utilises the natural hydroscopic properties of sheep’s wool to keep compost moist which is particularly important when buds set during the summer.
Jane Barker from Dalefoot Composts, based near Penrith, said: “We’re thrilled to have been shortlisted for the second year running and very proud that a small, family-run Cumbrian business has been nominated alongside so many well-known household brands. We put a lot of hard work and research into our peat free products and to get recognition like this is wonderful.”