The Broads Authority in Norfolk is working on the Broads Peatland Partnership to develop a whole new approach to peat management and carbon storage in The Broads; rewetting degraded peat, adopting paludiculture* and delivering additional ecosystem benefits.

There's a number of difficult ones [to grow without peat] – 'ericaceous' or acid-loving plants have been shown to be difficult, and carnivorous plants have seemed to be challenging," says Griffiths. The RHS has not yet released the results of the trial. This also means that the nutrients from the compost and any plant food leach to the bottom too meaning that your plants are not getting the water/nutrients they need. We test compost for three different tasks; sowing seeds, raising young plants and for use in containers. A: It doesn’t have any nutrition, and doesn’t compact as much as compost does. If you need a soil amendment that has macronutrients and micronutrients, go for compost. For aeration and lightening, go for peats. Some peat-free compost contains green waste, which may contain weeds, micro-plastics and fungal diseases.

The EU myth.

So, what is peat moss good for? And what is peat moss used for? Let’s talk about it! While alternatives exist, it’s hard to outperform the old standby. Peat Moss for Seed-Starting and Soil-Less Mixes The government has a target of restoring 35,000 hectares of peatlands by 2025 as part of its commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Gardeners will have to manage without. Using bark, coir, green waste, biodigestate or woodchip compost is already the norm for many, as garden centres have drastically cut the peat-based composts they sell. Peat by volume in growing media has halved since 2020 and just 17 per cent of amateur growing media is peat-based. However, this could rise, temporarily. We’re calling for a clear timeframe and a commitment to work with the wider horticulture sector to reduce dependency, promote innovative alternatives, and speed up the shift to a successful peat-free industry.”

Peat extraction causes a whole array of environmental problems. Firstly, it destroys habitats. "Quite a lot of the plants and insects and other animals that live [in peatlands] don't live anywhere else," says Judith Conroy, a researcher at Coventry University's Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience (CAWR). "It's a really unique habitat. And once you dig it up, it becomes a barren wasteland, basically." Britain’s Royal Horticultural Society, the largest gardening organization in the world, has reduced peat use by 97% at its four major gardens and has been asking its members to follow their lead. But that’s not all.Because of commercial extraction, only about 6,000 hectares of lowland raised bog in the UK remain in pristine or near-natural condition. The latest government figures show that 62 per cent of the peat we use in growing media and soil conditioners comes from other countries, primarily the Republic of Ireland and the Baltic States and Finland. But environmentalists say that we shouldn't be contributing to our carbon footprint by importing this peat and should instead put our resources into using our own natural materials to make sustainable growing media that work. Green waste is another ingredient with a ready and often cheap local supply. However, it can have contamination issues. "It's basically made from what people put into their green waste bin, [so] it can be contaminated with things like plastic and herbicide residues, especially from grass clippings," says Conroy. If efforts and energies were focused here, however, improving its quality "could happen quite easily", she adds. In fact, our testing shows really variable results for both cheap and expensive compost. The only way to really know what you're getting is to look at our results. Things to look for when buying compost Waste sheep wool is another peat moss alternative I've used successfully as a professional gardener,' says Drew Swainston.

The quality and consistency of peat-free media has been improving significantly in recent years and it seems that gardeners are finally starting to invest in alternatives. There has also been some speculation that due to poor harvests in recent years, the availability of peat will be reduced and prices may rise. This may encourage gardeners to move towards peat-free products.Peat is currently legal to buy and use in the UK and the Government does not propose banning sales of bagged peat-based growing media until the end of 2024. Professional growers have until the end of 2026 to use it, and there are exemptions for mushrooms and “plugs”, starter plants grown in less than 150ml of peat. Use compost in a well-ventilated place; keep the greenhouse or potting shed door open and avoid breathing in dust. Find out more about why you should buy peat-free compost. Is it true that I can catch Legionnaires' disease from compost? Most of the US’s sphagnum moss resources come from Canada or the northern parts of the United States. Sphagnum moss grows specifically in wetlands in tundra areas. There are sphagnum peat bogs in South America as well, but our commercial peat moss comes from the north.

All sales of peat to amateur gardeners in England will be banned by 2024, the Government has announced today (Saturday 27th August). Another thing organic gardeners appreciate is all-natural sources. Not only is peat moss organic, but it’s also only one step removed from the plants in the peatlands it comes from. Bog moss is essentially organic matter used in soil mixes, and bulk peat moss is sold on its own too. Peat moss doesn’t have any chemicals in it either. It’s free of fungus, bacteria, harmful chemicals, and weed seeds. Sterility When should I use peat moss on my lawn? Peat moss uses can include lawn as well as garden. The timing is key, though. It’s best to use this material when you are planting sod, rather than using it while your lawn is growing. That’s because of the acidity spike it can create in the existing soil. Traditionally, peat has also been used for soil improvement and mulching but other materials are better suited to these tasks. Peat is never used as a soil improver or mulch in RHS Gardens.

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Not only is Canada not banning peat, but it’s also using it in more than just gardens and potting mixes.