What Is Peat?
Peat is found in northern European and North American bogs and wetlands. Wetlands trap quantities of vegetative growth below water. Peat moss is the product of decomposing waterlogged vegetation. When dried, peat moss is highly absorbent. According to Ireland's Peatland Country Park, due to it's absorbency peat has been used on the floors of stables and as bandages during the World Wars. People have used slow burning peat as fuel. Peat has been harvested most recently as a horticultural product. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
Misconceptions
-
Gardeners add degraded organic materials, such as leaves, manure and kitchen scraps, into their soil to improve its texture and fertility. Some gardeners add peat to a compost mix, but peat should not be used as the sole soil amendement in your garden.
Compost contains nutrients which are essential to healthy plant growth. Compost also adds bulk to garden soil. Bulk helps soil retain moisture and promotes necessary aeration of compacted soils. Peat can be added to compost as a bulking agent but does not provide soil with measurable nutrients. Peat absorbs water and should not be used as mulch. When placed on top of soil peat will not allow moisture to flow into the soil to be taken up by plant's roots.
Function
-
Peat moss is commonly used in potting mixes to provide bulk and aerate containerized soil. It is also used to grow seedlings and starts. Seedlings are at risk to bacteria and fungi. Peat is not a good growing medium for these organisms. Since peat absorbs moisture it creates a good environment for emerging root systems.
Acid levels in bogs and wetlands are higher than the levels found in most garden soil. Some plants, such as blueberry bushes and rhododendrons, prefer highly acidic soils. If you are growing these plants then you may wish to incorporate peat moss into your soil.
-
Expert Insight
-
When tilling peat into flower beds or other garden areas Cornell University's Department of Horticulture recommends using a 33 percent volume of peat moss to the soil mass. They recommend placing 1- to 6-inch layers of peat moss over the top of the area. Use less peat if you are shallowly tilling the soil and 6 inches if you are incorporating the peat deeply into your beds.
Considerations
-
Water soaked vegetation degrades slowly. Barbara Pleasant, a horticulturist and contributing editor to "Mother Earth News" magazine, explains that "peat comes from such very slow-growing, slow-rotting plants that it typically takes 1,000 years for a bog to add 1 yard to its depth." She adds that the equipment required to harvest peat also changes the bog's ecosystem.
Gardeners and gardening authorities maintain that North American bogs are in good health and can safely yield peat. They do not suggest ending the use of peat altogether.
Alternatives
-
The amount of peat used in seed starting soil mixes is decreased when the amount of vermiculite or coarse sand in the mix is increased.
Outdoor gardens benefit from nutrient-rich compost. If your garden has compacted, clay soil then introduce leaves and worms into your compost to increase bulk and aeration. If your crop requires highly acidic soil then consider ferrous sulfate, a chemical compound which increases soil's acid level. Ask at your local gardening center about other chemical alternatives.
-
References
- Photo Credit bog on the island of Andöya in northern Norway image by Lars Lachmann from Fotolia.com
