Peat bogs are poorly drained low-lying ground where water collects and sits. The decomposing plant material fills the bog and compresses, reducing oxygen in the bog water even further. This decomposing plant material, which is often composed of mosses, is highly acidic, and a peat bog has been equated to a vinegar swamp. The lack of oxygen combines with the high acidity to slow down the decay of the plant materials, creating partially carbonized composites known as peat. more »
Sphagnum peat moss is the dead, decomposing matter that collects beneath the top, living level of a peat bog. Sphagnum peat is an organic soil conditioner that aerates poor soil and holds in moisture and nutrients to feed plant roots. These properties allow the gardener to water and fertilize less often, and promise a healthy, prolific vegetable or flower garden. Most of North America's sphagnum peat is produced in Canada, and it is widely available in home improvement stores and nurseries in many countries, including the United States. more »
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