Chances are that if you ’re a nurseryman , you ’ve used peat moss before , perhaps without knowing it . I ’ll be the first to admit , I used peat multiple times before having an inkling of what it was , where it come from , and why it ’s utilitarian . When I started out as a gardener , I did what the on-line article and Scripture say to do .
Over prison term , I ’d pick and choose the thing that act upon easily for my situation and area . When I started with gardening , I read about the idealistic dirt mix ( equal function peat moss , compost , and vermiculite ) and asked few head about what I was doing . Now , older and ( perhaps ) fresh , I ’m more skeptical and careful about what I ’m using in and around my garden . I learn from my mistakes and query conventional wisdom when it does n’t process for me .
Peat moss is one of those things that I ’ve learned to be careful with , and I ’ll pose out all the reason why I avoid using it in my garden .
Be a Skeptical Consumer
I ’ll seek to cover as much as potential regarding peat moss , but I urge you to have the same skepticism and question nature as I do . Peat moss has its advantages , but as you ’ll soon observe , it has plenty of important drawbacks .
Gardening is all about making error and embrace trial and erroneousness . More than that , it ’s about experimentation . If by the end of this article you decide to find a substitute for peat , espouse the experiment forward .
What is Peat Moss?
Peat is a byproduct of the moss rot process in peat bog . The largest and most significant peat bogs are in North America and Russia . essentially , peat moss is the bottom layer of dead hooey under live moss . It need alongtime for this layer to spring and break down .
Wait. Is Peat the same as Spaghnum moss?
They ’re two different things . But it ’s so easy to get them confused , especially since a lot of peat ware are mislabeled as something else . Garden heart also label some peat moss products as sphagnum moss peat moss , which add to the confusion . Spaghnum moss is the actual living plant life material , while peat moss is all in , dead , and deader .
Spaghnum moss is neutral in pH and is very hempen . you could use it as a decorative enhancement or bedding in flower arrangement . Peat moss , on the other helping hand , consists of the all in and decaying fabric underneath live peat moss moss . It has an acidulous pH and hold back water exceptionally well .
Why use peat in the garden?
Peat moss is a useful amendment for gardeners because it helps the grease to keep back moisture . It ’s often used in pot mixes for this reason . Because it does n’t smash down chop-chop , a unmarried app is all that ’s required to last for a good chunk of time .
The fact that it does n’t need to be replaced each year is another advantage that gardeners appreciate . A long - lasting sensitive that you only involve to add once every few years ? When I first started , that was an attractive proposition , and it still is .
Peat is also a sterile amendment that does n’t contain disease or other hitchhiker ready to destroy your garden . If you ’ve ever tot a product to your garden only to find a Modern pest or disease claiming your plant , you know this is a hugely beneficial characteristic .
In accession , peat moss prevents soil compaction by increasing air flow . It has a fluffy texture that does n’t bundle , and when you sum up it to your land , it restrain it aerated .
It ’s a popular grow sensitive because it retains water and helpsget oxygento the roots of plants .
At least , that ’s what schematic Wisdom of Solomon will tell you . I have never had much chance with peat moss , and I ’m hesitant to bank on it much because it ’s not at all eco - favorable .
Sure , it ’s derived from the earth , but the worthful sources of this amendment are limited . I find it does n’t hold back wet as well as I ’d like it to , either . Read on for more selective information on the drawbacks of peat .
Drawbacks and Negatives of Choosing Peat Moss
sure companies and sake groups are keen to propose that peat moss is a renewable and sustainable imagination . That ’s not quite the accuracy . It ’s derive from the earth and finally does get replenish , but it take an fantastically long time . The rot process that result in peat take millennia .
Another downside of peat moss is that harvesting from peat bogsreleases superfluous carboninto the air . Peat bogs are carbon sinks . That is , instead of releasing carbon dioxide into the standard atmosphere and contributing to climate change , they put in carbon paper . In fact , these bogs are more importantthan heavily forest areaswhen it comes to storing carbon copy . Without these natural areas , climate changewould occur even more quickly .
The peat bog from which peat is harvested are also decisive to surround eco - systems and tamper around in them can damage louse , hiss , and other animal habitats . Harvesting peat alsoaffects nearby water qualityand has an impact on aquatic life .
drain bogs for harvestaffects water pH , as well . In some areas of the world , Farmer run out peat bog to use the quad for farming . This practice session contributes tosignificant nursery gas emission .
Peat peat bog represent a not so insignificant part of the earth ’s material - estate – they make up 3 % of the earth ’s land surface area . But they are not only threaten by mining for horticultural use . Fires and climate changealso pose a tangible scourge to this precious resourcefulness .
The gardening and farming industries are not the only consumer of peat . In Europe , some countries utilize peat harvests for energy . In fact , fuel peat represent a meaning threat to peat bog reserves .
Downsides to Using Peat Moss as Mulch
In my personal experience , while some people hail peat as an excellent mulch , I ’d suggest staying away from it . apply to the control surface of the soil , it ’s a poor moisture retainer . It does much better as an amendment coalesce into the world .
mark also that peat moss does n’t allow any nutrients . If that ’s your goal , swear oncompostor other amendments to do the problem .
Gardeners hail peat moss for its water retention capableness , too . Sure , peat moss is a athirst sensitive , but once it ’s completely dry , it takes A LOT of piss to get it wet and hydrated again . The process of rewetting whole dry - out peat is a stupendous pain and wastes a lot of water .
Should You Use Peat Moss for Gardening, Then?
It ’s entirely up to you if you want to use peat moss in the garden . But it ’s for certain important to consider the environmental impact involved in harvest home peat moss . If you find the medium to be an priceless cock in your arsenal , it might be worth it to limit your utilization to specific tasks instead .
Instead of using it each class as a potting mixture for seed start , choose alternatively to use it once when you tally your stain mixture to horticulture beds . Or if you get hold it unacceptable to go without peat for potting determination , use it only in that instance .
Then there ’s the fact that peat is a natural product , and who does n’t love that?As gardeners , it ’s wanton to imagine that because we are sour with Mother Nature and playing in the dirt that we are doing something inherently good . But even as we nurture and nutrify the plants we grow , we also have to bide informed and tread carefully as we garden .
The bottom line is this : if you ca n’t live without peat moss , keep using it . Just process it like the precious resource it is . On the other manus , if you have it away what peat does for your garden , but you want to determine your environmental encroachment , there are some alternatives out there for you .
Peat Moss Alternatives
There are a assortment of alternative to peat moss in the garden . If you ’re looking for a lightweight medium that keep on moisture and nutrient , front no further . We ’ve got a list of recommendations .
Keep in nous , however , that no other medium feature film all the properties of peat moss ( moisture retention , hospitable pH , holey nature , long - lasting , encourages air flow , no potential to open disease or pests ) . But that does n’t mean that there are n’t worthy alternatives for gardeners . The choice you make depends mostly on what you intend to do with it .
Make your own or buy it at your local garden center . Compost is miles more eco - friendly than peat moss and does something peat can not ; fork out nutrient to your plants .
A great alternative to peat moss , I ’ve used coco coir as a mulch successfully in my garden . It ’s an environmentally - friendly option , and it provides much good airflow than peat moss . It ’s also an first-class moisture consideration and score a good surface mulch , unlike peat . Its pH is neutral , so it ’s secure to use on any and all flora in your garden . The downside is that it ’s a bit pricier than other option .
Biochar is an agrarian by - product . It ’s a utilitarian soil amendment and has theability to hold water .
Wood bark is a useful mulch that you could find in a change of peat - detached or downcast - peat production .
Shredded straw , paper , and composition board are suitablemulchmaterials . I am a vast devotee of using straw in my garden .
When choosing an option to peat , check that to choose an option that ’s clearly label aspeat - free . If you have bother detect a peat - gratuitous ware , seem for options label low-toned or foreshorten - peat . Low - peat mixes are designed to mimic peat moss by maximise airflow and water retentiveness . If you may , look at exploiter reviews for products or ask around for recommendation since tone diverge greatly with this case of eco - friendly merchandise .
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