Some products in the Grower's Range may become warm when stacked in large piles, particularly in enclosed situations. In the case of Sylvamix® Growing Media supplied with added controlled release fertilizer there is a risk that excess release of nutrient could occur. It is therefore recommended that the pile height is kept as low as possible in order to reduce the likelihood of heating.
Any Sylvamix® product supplied containing controlled release fertilizer must be used within 21 days of delivery in order to ensure that no excess release of nutrient occurs.
Sylvamix® growing media
should always be stored carefully in clean, dry, cool conditions away from any
potential contaminants and direct sunlight.
Sylvamix® growing media
can safely be stored for up to one month under suitable conditions.
Compost Mixing
Once the bark has been incorporated into a growing medium, some heating may occur if the mix is stacked into a large pile. Although this is unlikely to cause any harm if used within a few days, the effect can be lessened by ensuring that the bark is cool before it is blended with other materials. It is recommended that the compost is used after being freshly made, particularly if controlled-release fertilizers have been incorporated.
Supplementary Nitrogen
When products from the Melcourt Growers' Range are incorporated into composts, no special nutrient additions are required other than in some cases the addition of a small amount of supplementary nitrogen. It has been proven that a small addition at the time of compost mixing is all that is required to counteract the effect of any nitrogen lock-up. The following rates of nitrogen, in the form of ammonium nitrate, which is available from any horticultural supplier, are recommended:
NB: Calcium ammonium nitrate can also be used and in some cases can be an easier fertilizer to handle. As it contains a lower nitrogen percentage, the rate of addition should increase. For every gram of ammonium nitrate added the rate for calcium ammonium nitrate should be 1.2 times this amount. (See example).
| Summer | Winter | |
| Non-ericaceous stock | Up to 1.0 gram/litre to a maximum of 500g per cubic metre of finished mix. | Up to 0.5 grams/litre to a maximum of 250g per cubic metre of finished mix |
| Ericaceous or salt sensitive | Up to 0.5 grams/litre to a maximum of 250g per cubic metre of finished mix | nil |
The rates above refer to the grams of ammonium nitrate to be added per litre of bark used in the mix. As the amount is so small it is recommended that the ammonium nitrate is first diluted with water, which ensures better distribution within the mix.
For example, a 25 % addition of Melcourt Potting Bark, ie 250 litres per 1000 litre (1 cubic metre) of mix, would require up to 250 grams of ammonium nitrate, for a non-ericaceous summer mix.
If calcium ammonium nitrate was used, the quantity in this example should be 250 grams multiplied by 1.2 which is 300 grams.
Liability
Growing medium ingredients in the Melcourt Growers' Range are designed to be used as ingredients in growing media or as ready-to-use media in the case of the Sylvamix® Range. They have been tested over a wide range of conditions during several seasons. However, as Melcourt has no control over the circumstances surrounding the use of the products, the company cannot accept liability for every eventuality. If in doubt, it is recommended that the proposed method of use is first discussed with one of Melcourts' technical staff.