What Is Peat-free Compost?

Peat Defined

• Peat occurs in swampy areas. It is a partially-rotted material composed of dead plants that have not fully decomposed due to the fact that they have not been exposed to air. Peat is used in gardens because it is composed entirely of organic matter that helps feed plants and because it retains water, helping to keep the soil moist.

Harvesting Peat

• Peak bogs grow in thickness at a rate of about .04 inches a year --- very slowly. Because it accumulates so slowly, it is a non-renewable resource. Peat also stores a lot of carbon. And it provides habitat to vast numbers of flora and fauna. All of these are reasons why it is not considered a good idea to harvest peat for use in gardens when so many peat-free composts are available. Peat bogs can replenish themselves only over thousands of years. When peat is harvested carbon, a greenhouse gas implicated in global warming is released into the atmosphere. Harvesting peat also destroys critical habitat for plants and animals; their existence is threatened when peat bogs are harvested.

Benefits of Peat-free Compost

• Peat-free compost has the same benefits to garden soils as peat-based compost does. It improves the soil's fertility, moisture retention and increases its temperature. It acts as a mulch to prevent weeds from growing in your garden beds. It is useful as when planting as you can line the whole in which you are putting a plant or shrub with peat-free compost and it will increase moisture retention and feed the plant at the same time. The use of an organic material to feed plantings reduces the need for chemical fertilizers. It improves soil structure and can increase the yield of the garden. Peat-free compost contains micro-organisms that improve the soil and provide nutrients to plants.

Environmental Reasons to Use Peat-free Compost

• Not only does the use of peat-free compost reduce the amount of harvesting on peat bogs, it also recycles organic waste and keeps it out of the landfill. Peat-free compost is available commercially. Or you can find your own by collecting leafmold from your own property or from local parks, forests (make sure it is legal to remove material from the forest), golf courses and neighbors' yards.

Making Peat-free Compost

• Leafmold and peat are very similar. To make leafmold, fill a large trash bag with autumn leaves. Put holes in the bag, wet the leaves, and let it sit for two years. If you are in more of a hurry, run a lawn mower over the leaves, then put them in a chicken-wire enclosure and keep them wet. Using the faster method, you should have leafmold in about six months.