This has caused other regions to respond by issuing bans on certain uses of this soil amendment. While Canada has done a good job of tracking overall reserves, other nations continue to harvest the material without any standard enforcement of sound ecological practices. The rate of growth varies widely - including as slowly as 1/16-inch per year - and all countries do not regulate these products the same way. They claim that they are using responsible practices to ensure that what they take is growing back at a healthy rate.
Manufacturers have found themselves defending the practice of mining and selling these products to consumers. What is Peat Moss?Īs it exists in nature, peat moss is made up of layers upon layers of partially decomposed plant remains - such as sedges, reeds, mosses, and grasses - and is formed over thousands of years when an abundance of water and the absence of oxygen affect the natural processes of decay, according to the Royal Horticultural Society, a British conservation group. Let’s learn more about this gardening ingredient, and why its production can be controversial. This product isn’t the most affordable soil additive either, so you’ll want to add that factor into the equation, as well.Īnd this product has costs beyond what you pay at the garden center, too. We’ve also known for some time that adding this product to amend the soil around pink hydrangeas can be the boost they need to turn them blue.īut what if you don’t want a more acidic soil? You will need to balance it out, usually with lime, to keep your pH from going awry. Though this can be a problem for some plants, this also means it’s a great solution for growing plants that love more acidic soil, like blueberries. Well, it can cause your soil to become more acidic. Sounds great, right? So why would anyone have an issue with this supplement? It’s also a $500 million industry in Canada, the leading supplier of horticultural peat products sold in the United States. It’s often marketed as a simple, one-step solution to attaining the soil of your dreams. This amendment has been revolutionizing gardening for years. In essence, you can add it in with no worries that you will introduce harmful elements to your soil.
There are no pathogens, bacteria, bugs, weed seeds, or other nasties to worry about, like you might find in other soil amendments. Gardeners also like that its introduction to the garden causes no disruptions. It doesn’t get compacted, which can suffocate new seedlings or cause root veggies to become stunted because they can’t push through dense clay soil types. It behaves like lignin (decomposed wood cellulose). Soil that is mixed with peat is much less dense. Used as a soil amendment, it can add “fluffiness” to the soil.
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