Brand: Sylva Grow MPC | Supplier: Melcourt | Price: £0.22/litre
Personal observations
SylvaGrow has a reputation among professional growers, and the product reflects that positioning. The material is fine and very uniform — the highest fine-fraction reading of any product in the test at 60%, with nothing at all retained above 10mm. On opening, it looks almost too processed: very consistent colour, no visible wood chip or fibre fragments despite being wood-based. The slow-release fertiliser prills become visible after drying — small white and yellow spherical beads, consistent with what is listed in the professional specification. It does not clump in the hand, which is characteristic of wood-fibre mixes. Water retention is below average at 2.4 times dry weight, and it dried in about 25 minutes. The overall impression is of a product engineered for consistency and reliability across a growing season, rather than one that brings biological richness. At this price it sits in a different market from the budget products — you are paying for batch consistency and the absence of contamination rather than for exceptional moisture performance.
Quick-test data (April 2026)
| Metric | Band | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulk density (dry) | M | 0.22 g/ml | Mid-range — typical for processed wood-fibre product |
| Water held per g dry weight (WHC) | M | 2.4× | Slightly below typical organic range |
| Dry-down time | — | 25 min | Average across test group |
| Sieve: <2mm fraction | — | 60.0% | High — finest sieve profile in the test group |
| Sieve: 2–10mm fraction | — | 36.4% | Moderate |
| Sieve: >10mm fraction | — | 0.0% | Negligible — very clean |
| Price per litre | Mainstream | £0.22 | Garden centre retail — bought in store, no P&P |
WHC slightly below the typical 2.5–3× OM range, consistent with a wood-fibre base that has not fully humified. The absence of coarse fraction and excellent fine-fraction consistency are the real quality markers here.
Available at selected garden centres — check stockist availability before purchasing online, as P&P would move this into a higher price bracket. For an explanation of why brands offer multiple product types at different price points, see our FAQ.
Comparative hands-on testing, April 2026. Consistent method across all 18 products. See methodology note.
At-a-glance rating breakdown
| Category | Weight | Score |
| Ease of use | 40% | 7.0 |
| Composition & quality | 35% | 6.8 |
| Sustainability | 25% | 5.4 |
| Overall (weighted) | 100% | 6.8 / 10 |
What we liked
- Consistent, easy handling.
- Widely available peat-free option.
Points to consider
- Limited soil biology.
- Feeding required after establishment.
Our conclusion
Respected professional brand, consistent and good technical data on ingredients and performance.
