peat moss
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Noun
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Have you ever explored a bog? It’s a beautiful, eerie, sort of place. The first time I visited a bog, there was no boardwalk on which visitors could walk. Our guide directed us just where to step. It was strange to be walking on top of floating mounds of sphagnum moss.
I immediately fell in love. I feel the same way about marshes and swamps. They are beautiful places but are often drained for commercial purposes. Draining bogs in order to harvest peat moss is just one of those purposes.
Peat Moss is Used Commercially
Peat moss has a number of commercial uses. It is dried and used as fuel, especially in some European countries where coal, natural gas or oil are scarce. It has been used as animal bedding, oil spill clean-up and sewage treatment.
The other major use of dried peat is as a soil amendment used to increase the soil’s capacity to retain moisture. It is also sometimes used as a mulch. The harvesting of peat moss has raised controversy in recent years, however. According to Wendy Priesnitz of Natural Life Magazine:
The peat moss is commercially harvested (or “mined” – depending on which side of the debate you’re on) from these bogs. The process involves digging a network of drainage ditches and settling basins so that the water drains away from the wetland and the bog begins to dry out and die. Once that happens, all surface vegetation is removed and the deposit is ready for peat production. The surface peat layer is dried by the sun and wind. The topmost layer is typically harrowed to enhance the drying process. After a few days, the dry peat layer is collected using a large vacuum harvester or other equipment, then transported to a processing facility for screening and packaging.
The Value of Peat Bogs
Peat bogs act as earth’s giant sponges and filters. They soak up falling rain and release it slowly, helping to prevent flooding. As filters, they help to keep our water supply clean by absorbing chemicals, filtering pollutants, neutralizing harmful bacteria and trapping heavy metals and other toxins.
Pitcher Plants grow in wetlands with low nutrient soil. It captures and digests insects as its source of nourishment.
Bogs and other wetlands are a pitstop for migrating birds, offering food and protection as they continue on their journey. And they are home to a diversity of wildlife from dragonflies and snakes, to bog lemmings and turtles.
Although sphagnum moss is generally dominant, peat bogs are rich in other, sometimes rare, plant life, including cranberries, sundew and pitcher plants, evergreen shrubs and trees, and orchids.
When peat is harvested, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. Undisturbed, bogs function as a carbon sink, a reservoir for storing carbon for an indefinite period. The process by which these carbon sinks remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is known as carbon sequestration.
The Problem With Using Peat
I am not against the use of our natural resources, including peat moss, nor would I consider myself a preservationist. I do, however, believe that we are to be good stewards of the home that we have been given and are to use the resources wisely and carefully.
It can be argued that peat is not a renewable source of energy. That is because peat is being extracted at a greater rate in many countries than it is regrowing. The rate of growth is extremely slow – about 1 mm per year, and it appears that many bogs are not regrowing at all. It can take centuries for a peat bog to recover from mining.
Sundew – another carnivorous plant found in bogs.
Large areas of peat bogs are being drained for farming, forestry, and peat extraction all over the world. We are losing the sponges and filters needed to keep our water clean and the habitat of many species is being destroyed.
The organic carbon that was built up over thousands of years and is normally under water, is being exposed to the air. As it decomposes it turns into carbon dioxide, which is released into the atmosphere. In addition, peat is often shipped hundreds of miles, further adding to the need for fuel for transportation.
The problem of bog destruction is particularly serious in the UK. Most peat sold in the United States comes from Canada, which is rich in peat bogs. The Canadian government has strict regulations regarding the extraction of peat moss.
Once the peat is mined, it is required that the area be returned to wetland when at all possible. But restoring the fragile ecosystem of the bog is virtually impossible. The restored wetland lacks biodiversity and resembles more of a monoculture than an area rich in native flora and fauna.
Peat Moss is Not a Great Soil Amendment
Although peat has good water holding capacity, it is extremely difficult to rewet once it has dried. It actually repels water, making it a poor mulch. Although sold as a soil amendment, peat moss can make your soil ph too acidic and is virtually devoid of nutrients. Why not add amendments which build your soil?
Alternatives to Peat Moss in the Garden
The use of peat in the home garden is really unnecessary. Chopped leaves, grass clippings, and wood chips make a much better mulch and add nutrients to the soil as they decompose. And they hold moisture – the main reason peat moss is recommended.
Compost, well rotted manure, and alfalfa are all superior and generally less expensive soil amendments, particularly if you are making your own compost and have access to pastured farm animals.
The Seed Starting Mix Dilemma
One area of gardening with which I am having a difficult time finding a suitable replacement for peat moss is in seed starting mix. When seeds are started in an indoor environment, they do best in a soilless, sterile mix which helps to minimize disease.
Peat moss is generally an important component of these mixes, whether homemade or store-bought. Coir, a fiber made from the husks of coconut shells, is now being used as an alternative to peat moss.
I have not had good success with these mixes; I find that the coir stunts my seedlings. As I research this product, I see very mixed reviews. While some have had success, other growers have been unhappy with the results of using coir.
In a study by Utah State University, sphagnum peat moss outperformed coir. I am learning that some low quality coir has a high sodium content while other manufacturers remove the sodium. Be sure to read reviews and ask questions for the specific product before purchasing.
At this point, I suspect that coir production is not standardized, accounting for the mixed results. Hopefully, this product will improve and provide consistent results.
Have you used any coir products? Did you have success with it?
Sources:
http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/questioning-peat-moss?page=0,1
http://www.motherearthnews.com/ask-our-experts/peat-moss-to-improve-soil.aspx#axzz2KckdvzAA
http://www.naturallifemagazine.com/0712/asknlpeat.html
http://www.puyallup.wsu.edu/~linda%20chalker-scott/horticultural%20myths_files/Myths/Horticultural%20%20peat.pdf
http://www.usu.edu/cpl/PDF/CoconutCoirPaper.pdf
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Colleen Anderson says
I am using coir this season because it has been virtually impossible to find peat in my area. (I too only use it to start seeds and never in the garden itself.) I’m having success but the main thing I’m noticing is that I have to get the seedlings in the ground pretty quickly after the first true leaves appear or the seedlings starts to have trouble.
Susan says
Yes, the seeds germinate just fine, but then as the plant grows, they are stunted. I wish I could find a reliable solution. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Patrica Dowell says
Thanks for blogging about this issue. I too have struggled with the use of peat moss vs other products as a base bedding in my chicken coop. i use the deep litter method and the base is a thick layer of pea moss over the year I add wood shavings, herb clippings and other garden clippings. The whole thing is cleaned out once a year and used as compost in the garden. Still I would rather not use peat moss if I could find something that absorbed as well/better and could go directly into the garden.
Susan says
So, has coir not worked well in the chicken coop, Patrica?
Megan Alton says
Thanks for posting this. I’ve been avoiding using peat moss in my garden for years and I’m glad you’ve brought it up for others to learn.
Susan says
Hi Megan! (love your blog, btw). Something about that first trip to a bog as a teen that makes this important to me, ya know?
Rosalyn says
Susan,
Thank you so much for posting this. Peat bogs are incredible environments and so many plants that live there cannot survive anywhere else. And so few people know about or appreciate these habitats, or even know what peat moss (or Sphagnum as I like to call it all the time!) is so they would never know the impact that its use has on the habitats it comes from. It is wonderful that you brought it to the attention of your readers, and I look forward to seeing what others suggest as an alternative for a seed starting medium. Try to get to a bog in spring when the Rhodora is in flower. One of the most beautiful sights of spring!
Susan says
I don’t know what it is, but it always makes me smile to hear from you! After I posted this, I thought of you and wished I had run it by you first. I thought you might have some good info on bogs. Bogs, swamps, marshes – my favorite places!! When my son was being homeschooled, he did a project called The Four Seasons of a Marsh. It was a fantastic project.
Anjanette says
Fascinating! Having just moved to a very wet area from a dry one, I was clueless on this issue!
Susan says
Hi Anjanette! I hope you have the opportunity to visit a bog now that you’re in Alaska. You’ll love it!
Danielle @ More Than Four Walls says
This is interesting. I never actually knew what peat moss was or how it was harvested. We are try each year to have a more sustainable, natural garden. We’re trying to avoid the use of chemical fertilizers, etc.
Glad you posted this – I gained more info in for our gardening journey!
Lisa Lynn says
I would love to have you link up to The HomeAcre Hop this evening!
http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2013/02/the-homeacre-hop-7.html
Lisa Lynn says
I’m so glad to have you share this information…we need to think about how our gardens affect the whole world, not just our back yards! Thanks for sharing this on The HomeAcre Hop!!! Can’t wait to see what you share this coming Thursday 🙂 Here’s the super easy link to the next hop!
http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2013/02/the-homeacre-hop-8.html
If you haven’t checked out Wildcrafing Wednesday yet, please do! 🙂 It’s a hop I co-host for herbal remedies, natural living, real food recipes, and self sufficient living. Here’s the link for tomorrow’s hop:
http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2013/02/wildcrafting-wednesday-10.html
Lisa Lynn says
Hi Susan!
I’m featuring this post on The HomeAcre Hop this week! I’ll be sharing it on Facebook, pinning it and tweeting it too 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Lori @ Our Heritage of Health says
This is great information about peat moss – I never knew anything about the way it was harvested. Those bogs look like a beautiful place to visit!
Thanks for sharing with Old-Fashioned Friday! 🙂
Paddy Barr says
loved your site learned so much will reconsider using peat moss. I want the bogs around.
I live a couple of miles from a famous bog called Cedar Bog.
Hetha says
Hi, i always make sure that I leach salts out of coir fibre and other things I use to make my seed raising mix. I started doing this after I noticed the stunted growth of my seedlings.
Its just a matter of soaking and rinsing the fibre several times before use. This washes excess salts off the product by way of diffusion. I also use perlite in my seed raising mix, this too is leached prior to use to remove excess flouride that can be present.
after sowing seeds, the tray are topped with a thin layer of vermiculite help maintain moisture.
I have since had no trouble using coir in my garden. The only thing I use peat for is for my pitcher plants.
Susan Vinskofski says
That’s a fantastic tip, Hetha. Thank you so much!!!
Tim says
I’m involved in a church based garden project. We are attempting to not be reliant on the big box stores for our veggie plants by growing our own seedlings. But store bought seed starter flats are cost prohibitive. We’ll be trying a DIY project with handmade paper mache pots and our own seedlings starter mix. I’ve been internet searching for peat moss alternatives. That’s how I found this page. Using coir seemed like a great solution until reading about the high sodium content. Did some more searching. Guess what? The high sodium issue with using coir has been addressed by the indoor hydrophonic marijuana growing industry. I’ll post links when I can use my laptop.
Susan Vinskofski says
Hi Tim, I love that you’re involved in a church based garden project! You may be interested in how I make pots from newspaper: https://learningandyearning.com/2011/03/06/seed-starting-pots-from-newspaper/. I’m anxious to hear about your source for quality coir!
Alissa says
Thanks for the great info here. I use the Square Foot Gardening method, and the ‘soil’ mixture calls for 1/3 peat moss. We will be building more raised beds this year, so I’ll look into alternatives. I have some coconut coir but haven’t tried it yet in the raised beds.
peat moss says
bundles of thanks for sharing such a great information i love this post…