Compost differences

Back in the day you could use compost straight from the bag and it would be fine. These days I always find I need to do something to it. For seedlings it needs to go through a sieve to get rid of plastic and big lumps. Often it needs some grit, vermiculite or perlite to open it up a bit too. Neither multipurpose nor soil-based composts seem to drain very well, the water makes it all stick together and stops air getting to the roots.

I don't mind messing about like this, but it must be a lot harder for inexperienced gardeners, who are often going to be disappointed and discouraged. I'm all for preserving our remaining peat bogs, but I wish the compost makers would put some effort into making their replacement stuff in some way comparable.