meters in paradise
Peat is a very useful and abundant planting and seeding material that is almost universally used in the propagation and growth of modern plants. It is a sustainably harvested natural resource, at least in North America, and the predominant source is Canada, although much of it is harvested in the United States. The popular “Proven Winners” line of garden plants uses potting soil from the Fafard Group, a Canadian company that also has several factories in the United States. Mass production depends on peat for plants that we buy from the blue or orange department store, or our favorite garden center.
Sometimes there is negative press for using any product that contains carbon or could increase pollution in some way. Such stories distort the picture. Because, any alternative also has advantages and disadvantages, and is not as good in most cases for the production of young seedlings of garden plants and flowers that most of us regularly buy in the spring.
Sphagnum moss and other bog plants decompose over time, and the process is slow. To get an overview, 86% of peatlands are pristine and undisturbed. Canadian peat can only be harvested for about 30-45 days due to frozen ground and/or rain. Of the 160 million acres, only about a quarter of one percent of that is actively logged. And of the 9,000 acres completed, more than half have been salvaged to near-original condition. Other countries may have other statistics, but in any case it is a natural and environmentally friendly product used daily in modern horticulture.
What are the uses of peat in the garden? Potting mixes and seed starter pots are a primary use. Bales of shredded peat can be plowed or mixed into garden beds to help aerate compacted or clay soils (or add organic matter to sandy soils). We often use peat to lower the pH, especially useful for growing blueberries, azaleas and many acid-loving shrubs and perennials. Certainly perlite, peanut hulls, rice hulls, coconut hulls, pine fines and a myriad of other things can and are added to planting mixes and growing mixes, but there It is difficult to obtain a reliable medium without using peat.
In summary, peat is the perfect starting ingredient for seeds and a beautiful ingredient in potting and planting mixes and garden or tree planting soils. Most of it is responsibly harvested and areas restored when harvesting or mining ends. It’s acidic, and not all plants like it. But a little lime or wood ash easily corrects this situation if you use a lot of peat in gardening and landscaping. Peat moss balls are the most economical for mixing your own combinations, but a starter or potting mix containing peat is probably more convenient for many to start gardening.
The author is a landscaper. He can be reached at rockcastles.net or (606) 416-3911.
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