How to Use the Plant & Compost Matcher
Finding the right compost has never been easier. Simply type in your plant name — whether it's tomatoes, roses, lavender, or a houseplant — and our matcher will recommend the ideal compost from our range. Then use the volume calculator to work out exactly how many bags you need based on your pot or bed dimensions.
Plant & Compost Matcher
Find your compost and calculate exactly how many bags to order.
Just enter your plant name below to begin.
Volume Calculator
Buy Compost Online — Delivered to Your Door
Grasmere Garden Centre stocks a wide range of composts, soil improvers, and growing media suitable for every garden and plant type. Browse our full compost range and order online for home delivery (Local area only) or click & collect from our store.
How Much Compost Do I Need?
Use our volume calculator above to find out exactly how many litres your pot or bed requires. Simply enter your pot diameter and depth (for circular pots) or length, width, and depth (for rectangular beds), and we'll calculate the volume for you — then show you how many bags to order.
As a rough guide:
- A 30cm circular pot at 25cm depth needs approximately 18 litres
- A standard raised bed (120cm × 60cm × 20cm) needs around 144 litres
- Most bags of compost are available in 40L, 50L, or 60L sizes
Which Compost Do I Need?
Different plants thrive in different growing media. Here's a quick guide:
- Vegetables & salads — a rich, moisture-retentive multipurpose or vegetable compost works best for raised beds and grow bags
- Containers & hanging baskets — a lightweight multipurpose compost with added perlite or coir helps with drainage and weight
- Roses & shrubs — a loam-based compost such as John Innes No. 3 provides the structure and nutrients woody plants need
- Seedlings & cuttings — a fine-grade seed and cutting compost gives young plants the best start
- Lawns & borders — a soil improver or composted bark mulch enriches the soil and suppresses weeds