Biochar: The Gardener's Guide

Is Biochar safe for your garden?

Yes! There is no evidence that, despite its long history as a soil amendment, biochar is hazardous to humans, animals or plants. Remember though, when working with any type of gardening product, it’s always a good idea to use the relevant safety equipment.  Our products can be safely applied in gardens with animals and children. Some pets may be attracted to some of the ingredients in our products – you can dig in the products to reduce the temptation – but it will not be harmful to them.

How does biochar affect soil?

Organic matter in soil is a vital part of how it functions, however in most cases when organic material breaks down in soil it can cause a number of problems such as loss of nutrients, loss of water retention and compacted soil.

Biochar has many benefits because it is so rich in carbon and does not break down in the soil. When added to soil it acts like a sponge holding onto nutrients and water, until they are needed. The biochar also aids beneficial soil microbes in the soil that help plants grow.

Do I need to soak or activate Carbon Gold Biochar?

No. Carbon Gold Biochar is ready to use right away as we have done the hard work for you. Carbon Gold biochar products are pre-packaged with all of the required nutrients and natural biology. That’s simple, isn’t it?

However, not all types of biochar are ready for use in this way. Most biochar products such as raw biochar or pure biochar do need to be ‘charged’. The big difference with Carbon Gold’s biochar products is that we have a ready to use biochar mix which is ready to use straight out of the box with no detrimental effects.

During storage, organic materials may develop a type of white mould on the surface, this is completely natural and harmless and is the natural biology in the product,  and will disappear when the surface of product is agitated.

What type of plants benefit from biochar?

Generally, any plant can benefit from biochar in the soil around the root zone.. Our biochar has a pH of around 8 and thus is slightly alkaline. Acid loving plants may not favour a more alkaline soil although if you are trying to adjust your soil pH it is always best to test the soil in order to get the most accurate readings.

Is biochar a fertiliser?

Pure biochar is a material that helps trap carbon. It is not really a fertiliser, but some people do use it as a high nutrient supplement. Usually, you should think of biochar as an organic matter amendment for your garden, which means it will help add nutrients to the soil.

Our Soil Association approved Biochar Fertiliser has natural biology and NPK added, so you can use straight out of the box!

Is biochar better than compost?

When you put compost and biochar in a bucket, they look very different. But how do they work in soil?

Biochar is made from organic material by cooking it without oxygen. The process can be done by burning biomass such as wood to produce the charcoal-like substance that has many beneficial uses in the garden.

Composting is the process of breaking down organic materials into a rich soil amendment that boosts plant growth through improved nutrient levels and water retention.

Biochar does however help improve the compaction, fertility and water-holding capacity of soil, making it great for growing vegetables, trees, shrubs and plants. It can also be mixed into potting mixtures to provide additional benefits when growing houseplants or seedlings.