Peat Moss Replacement

Marketing Peat Moss

• The peat moss most common among gardeners is called sphagnum peat, which is decomposed moss that is found at the bottom of bogs in nature's peatlands and wetlands. Peat companies collect and harvest this moss into the product that is mixed with soil to aid in the growth of plants and lawns. It's usually medium brown in color, light in weight and slightly fibrous, and ranges in price from average to very costly.

Why Replacement is an Issue

• Environmentalists have two essential concerns with removing the peat from the bogs. Peat bogs are natural water purifiers as well as basins for the wetlands, and many unique and rare wildlife and plants are being threatened by the removal of the peat from the bogs. The peat in the bogs naturally collects carbon from the air, and when the peat is removed and dried, it releases the carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere and acts like a potential greenhouse gas. According to the National Trust in the United Kingdom, legislation will force peat extractions to stop there by 2012.

Coconut Dust

• The husk fiber of the coconut is used to produce things like brushes and twine, but the shorter, unwanted fibers called coco dust have become an excellent peatlike product to replace the regular sphagnum peat. It has many benefits including being totally organic and resistant to bacterial and fungal growth. It can hold 8 to 9 times its weight in water, can both store and release nutrients to plants, neutralizes the acidic soil making it ideal for alkaline gardens, is reusable for many years, encourages worm growth and has a high content of potassium. The bulk of this peat is produced in Sri Lanka, India and the Philippines, which aids in world trade.

RePeat: Dairy Manure

• Dairy manure is collected and put through an anaerobic digesting compressor which mixes the waste and breaks it down into a spreadable product. It has similar characteristics to peat moss and can be spread on top of or mixed in with the soil. It is a natural organic alternative to peat moss that makes use of an accessible material and does not hurt the environment. Since dairy farming is a global market, the production of "RePeat" is not confined to restricted locations and does not incur transportation costs.

Garden Compost

• Using the compost from a home composter as a peat to be mixed in with soil can produce an excellent peat moss replacement. It's free and always accessible, completely organic and is rich in nutrients. Where regular peat is low in pH, garden compost is neutral, and is good at holding water. It's easier at rewetting and is filled with microorganisms which are good for the roots. It doesn't harm the ecosystem, and its process encourages people to recycle matter and help protect the environment.