Soil Building
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One of the most effective and controversial materials to garden with is peat moss . Effective because it works well in lashings of situations , and controversial because of how it is source . Many gardeners buy it on the regular without even knowing what it is or what it ’s doing in their praxis .
Peat moss is sometimes traduce among eco - conscious gardener . While they ’re not amiss to question the origin of peat moss sell in store , the truth is more complicated than one might think . Therefore , the subject deserves examination and discussion .
So we ’ve dedicated this piece to this interesting moss , what it is , and how to use it in the garden . We ’ll also bear upon on why it has been looked down upon by gardeners who appreciate an ecologically sound practice . All this will assist you as a gardener make the good potential decision about using it or an alternative .
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What Is Peat Moss?
A peat definition is in club ! How did this fabric gardeners spring for at the local glasshouse go from its born generator to a fictile bag ? Peat moss come from sphagnum moss , reap from peat bogs in the Northern Hemisphere . The moss is then decayed and dried in the peatland , meaning it is tolerate to lie unwrap to the sun . What results is a dark dark-brown fibrous stuff that is first-class for gardening .
This moss is an splendid amendment , especially in flaxen soil or in potted plants that have trouble retaining moisture . We ’ll blab out more about how to practice peat moss afterward . First up , a few distinctions !
Peat v Sphagnum Peat Moss
The term peat moss most often touch on to the down levels of peat found in a peat bog . Sphagnum peat moss is the flora from which the peat moss we use for garden is derived , but most of the peat we wish to expend is the long - disintegrate form that collects deeper in the peat bog layers . Over time , it becomes pack down , compact , and decay into a lovely spongy mass . The lower level may also contain other decomposed constitutional stuff , like other rotted plants .
The top percentage of the bog moss peat moss has its economic consumption , too . While it ’s stringier than the deeper decayed moss , it is often used in reptile cages or terrarium use . It is not as decayed , and still resembles the plant it used to be .
Most of the US ’s sphagnum moss resourcefulness come from Canada or the northerly parts of the United States . Sphagnum moss mature specifically in wetlands in tundra area . There are sphagnum peat bog in South America as well , but our commercial-grade peat moss issue forth from the Second Earl of Guilford .
Both have similar applications , but in ecumenical , the rotted grade of peat moss is much more acidic than the one that still bet plant - like . Typically , the only peat you ’ll find at the garden substance is the lower , more decomposed material . It takes unfeigned work to find the dried sphagnum moss moss ; typically , it ’s only through pet stores or specialty reptile shop class that you ’ll find good quantities of it .
How Does Peat Moss Form?
We ’ve talked by and large about how peat moss is created . Now let ’s take a closelipped look . peat moss moss grow freely in peat bogs or wetland area of cool - climate tundra and conifer forests . A look at the video station in this clause will give you an mind of just how lush this plant is .
sure area of these peat bogs are designate specifically for harvesting , most of which is done via a emptiness harvester . It ’s not the live moss that ’s desire , but the rotted moss that ride below .
Most harvest occurs between May and September . Before this take place , all the upland industrial plant must be removed . Black spruce and tamarack Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree are removed along with carnivorous plants , shrubs , and herbaceous plants .
Then the top layer of the huge sphagnum patch is removed and relocate to other areas of the bog which have not been disturbed , where it can thrive . The decayed , dry out sphagnum moss is allowed to lay in the sunlight for 2 to 3 twenty-four hours where it dries . It ’s then argufy up with the reaper and sucked into a receptacle . Then it ’s moved to a factory for processing and packaging .
Some are bag separately , and some are combined with decayed organic materials to be incorporate into potting soils sold worldwide . Some are made into peat pellets , and some are deal as just peat moss . Then it gain the shelves , where you ’ve likely understand and buy it .
Benefits of Peat Moss
Because peat moss is so widely used in horticulture , you may wonder what all the uproar is about . Here are the primary reasons people practice peat moss in their gardening praxis .
Moisture Retention
Because of the cellular structure of sphagnum moss , peat moss is an excellent resource for water retentive properties . sphagnum moss moss has two kind of cell : those that assist in photosynthesis and those barrel - shaped cells that retain water . Both of these are necessary for thriving peatland , as much of the independent source of nutrition for sphagnum is in the water and crumble moss below .
The moss will release the water to observe the wetland as well . This is why peat moss is such an essential addition to gardener ’ soil . Much of what we do is figure out the ripe possible way to carry out good water retention in the garden . Peat moss bog and in turn peaty dirt are the main sources of wet retention for many . That ’s why it ’s commonly used inpotting soil , and to line conducting wire baskets .
All-Natural Source
Another affair constitutive gardeners revalue is all - natural sources . Not only is peat moss organic , but it ’s also only one step removed from the plant in the peatlands it comes from . Bog moss is essentially constitutive matter used in territory mix , and bulk peat moss is sold on its own too . Peat moss does n’t have any chemical substance in it either . It ’s innocent of fungus , bacterium , harmful chemicals , and weed seeds .
Sterility
Peat moss is not only organic , and has excellent urine holding capacity , but it is also completely sterile . As we observe in the last section , there are no chemicals used in processing peat moss . Because there are no fungi , bacterium , and locoweed seeds , this media is white as a whistle . Peat moss also has antiseptic timbre that originate in polysaccharide which soak up harmful bacteria into cell wall . There ’s a long and very interesting account of the usance of this moss in medicine and as patch .
Widely Available
somewhat much every store you go to will have some form of peat moss uncommitted , whether it be a potting commixture , peat moss , or specifically sphagnum peat moss , you ’ll have no trouble locate a author . So many grower trust on this flora for soilless mix , starting seeds , and soil amendment and peat moss has been on the mart for a farseeing time . Therefore , it ’s authentic .
Doesn’t Compact
Although compost is alimental - plenteous , it does n’t equate to peat moss when it comes to anti - compaction potentiality . Much of this is related to the moisture - retentive property of peat , which keeps the soil it ’s in aerated and light . It ’s an first-class amendment for topsoil , which can wad quickly and easily . I know peat in soil would have been a welcome improver to my first conjure up seam , which I readily filled with the cheapest surface soil I could feel , only to set my crops in what was basically cement .
Drawbacks of Peat Moss
Now , what are the disadvantage of peat ? You may have heard about some of these . You may also find the truth about peat is more complex than you once thought .
Non-Renewable
Let ’s start with the environmental business concern . On the whole , peat is a non - renewable imagination . The fact that it outperforms other material in the garden is why it was overharvested for a retentive sentence with fiddling sentiment about how using moss for plant was contribute to ecologic decline .
Another one of the environmental concerns is that removing plants in bogs to access code sphagnum moss lead to worldwide heating . The vast majority of plants in peat bogs sequester carbon dioxide . When all the plants are removed , the decomposition unconscious process peat depart through outlet C dioxide into the atmosphere . Top that off with the fogey fuels used to power the harvesters , and you may be capable to see where the concerns lie .
One of the best thing to find in the peat domain in recent years is efforts toward making peat a renewable resourcefulness . Through organizations like the International Peat Society , ethical and ecologically sensitive harvest has been put into practice session . Living industrial plant cloth is relocate to make extraction more ecological . They have developed initiatives to mitigate the conflicting interest of land protectors , conservationists , and peat producers .
No Nutrients
Peat does n’t have any nutrient content , unlike compost , fauna manure , and other soil mixes . Therefore , it ’s only good for consistence and water retentiveness . Peat moss soil is never just peat moss . fuse peat moss with soil is what create these portmanteau . If you ’re grow plants in peat , you ’ll always need some source of nutrients in addition to the moss .
Hydrophobia
While peat is very moisture retentive , the unchewable textile is also hydrophobic when it dries out . Therefore , it take a meaning amount of water to re - spark off the retention it provides when slenderly moist . Peat soil that has dry out may require some kind of surface-active agent , or wetting agent to snap off the tension and allow it to absorb water again .
Acidity
The base - level peat moss pH is 5.5 ( sometimes even more acidic at 4.0 ) at least at the start of its manipulation . While this may not seem like a problem for multitude who love to turn back breaker - loving plant , the humiliated pH of acidic soil may be an matter for plants that need alkaline or impersonal grime . Using peat may ab initio make your soil pH low , but studies have shown it will neutralize within a twenty-four hour period or so .
Therefore , if you ’re using peat to institute alive crops , know it will take some time for the acid dirt tobalance out and neutralizein your garden .
Peat Moss Alternatives
What can I use rather of peat moss ? There are several choice ! One of the most commonly used alternatives is coconut coir , a material made of coconut fiber that is extracted from separate - down coconut cuticle . Coconut coircan have a mellow salinity content , though , making it necessary to water more . Other materials likeworm castingsserve a similar subroutine , adding water retentive properties to the dirt which aid gardeners arise plant life .
Compost is a great alternative as well . Not only iscompostwater - retentive , but it ’s also full of macro and micro nutrients needed to keep every plant sound . Rice Isaac Hull are the byproduct of hulled rice that you bribe in the store . They provide aeration and whitening . Pine bark also provides some nourishment and help retain moisture . Finally , pine phonograph needle add acerbic content to the grunge as they bring out down , making them great for acid - lovers .
How To Use Peat Moss
So , what is peat moss good for ? And what is peat moss used for ? Let ’s babble about it ! While alternatives be , it ’s hard to outperform the older standby .
Peat Moss for Seed-Starting and Soil-Less Mixes
When it comes to the U.S. of peat moss , seed - starting is one of the place where it shines . immix peat withperliteandvermiculiteand you have a greatseed commence mixthat is also grease - less . This mixture render source with the right amount of drainage and aeration that will help plant roots grow strong and healthy . Add a little compost to feed plant life roots some nutrients too !
Another one of the good peat moss uses is in soilless pot mixes . These are slap-up for plants that do n’t postulate a lot of nutrition to develop but do need air circulation and drainage . Most stain ( even peat soils ) horde bugs , fungus , or bacteria . That ’s why a soil - less mix is one of the well America for peat moss .
Peat Moss For Lawns
When should I use peat moss on my lawn ? Peat moss uses can let in lawn as well as garden . The timing is primal , though . It ’s best to use this material when you are planting greensward , rather than using it while your lawn is grow . That ’s because of the acidulousness spike heel it can create in the existing ground .
This acidity can make lawn study harder because it kills off good microbes and fishing worm . So apply a level of moss to the undercoat before planting your sod , and you ’ll have an extra bed of pee to help it rout in .
Amending Soil with Peat Moss
Can you flux peat moss with filth ? Absolutely . Just like compost , it ’s a cracking accession to garden dirt , as well as most kinds of soil . Soil amendments with these stuff provide urine retentivity and aeration that can serve planetary house plant uprise more easily .
sum it tosandy soillightens it , just as coco coir would . So if you see peat moss on sale when you are looking for a soil amendment , deal peats .
Frequently Asked Questions
Q : Is peat moss well for all plant ?
A : It provides an initial capitulum of acidity to some that may make coco coir preferable . It ’s a great soil amendment , though !
Q : What is the difference between peat moss and compost ?
A : It does n’t have any sustenance , and does n’t constrict as much as compost does . If you want a territory amendment that has macronutrients and micronutrients , go for compost . For aeration and whitening , go for peat .
Q : Why is peat moss being shun ?
A : While it is banned for home gardener use in the UK begin in 2024 , it ’s still available on its own or as a soil amendment in the US .
Q : What plants grow well in peat ?
A : With enough addition , most works will do just ticket . grease heavy with these materials grow acidic lovers well . Thinkblueberries , hydrangeas , andnasturtiums .
Q : Is peat moss toxic to humans ?
A : Untreated moss may hold in fungus kingdom that can stimulate illness . Most of those you find in stores are well - handle . This is not a business for most gardeners .
Q : Do Lycopersicon esculentum like peat moss ?
A : It ’s great as a dirt amendment fortomatoesbecause it helps retain consistent moisture level needed for plump , scrumptious fruit .
Q : Can you use too much peat moss ?
A : decidedly . You want to poise your usance with other cloth . Not only will this help you turn healthier plant life , but it will also serve limit the overconsumption of the material overall .
