Why is peat-free compost important?
Nowadays, with more awareness around peat-bog depletion, and peat as a limited resource, many gardeners prefer to use peat-free composts. Peat-free composts are great for water retention but, for plants that require good drainage, adding a bit of grit and sharp sand to the mix will help support growth.
What is wrong with peat based compost?
Many gardeners trust peat as a growing medium. But it’s not always ideal. It is a poor mulch, quickly dries out, and is easily blown away.
What is peat-free compost?
Peat-free potting composts contain mixtures of organic materials – e.g. composted bark, coir (coconut fibre), woodfibre and green compost – mixed with inorganic materials such as grit, sharp sand, rock wool and perlite.
Is peat free compost better for the environment?
Defra have announced that, though peat is best for some very specialist plants, for general garden use peat-free compost works as well, or better. A recent Which? Survey found that peat-free composts actually performed better than peat-based rivals in the growing of potatoes and potted plants.
What is peat compost used for?
Peat has been used for the past 200 years, mainly for burning. In some parts of the world peat is still used on an industrial scale, being burnt in power stations to produce electricity. Peat is also widely used by gardeners as a soil improver.
Why is peat so important?
Peat is hugely important to our planet for lots of reasons. It acts as a carbon store, it is a great habitat for wildlife, it has a role in water management, and preserves things well for archaeology. for archaeology – peat preserves a record of past vegetation, landscapes and people.
What’s the best peat free compost?
New Horizon. This is the most widely available peat free compost and therefore the one I have used the most over the years. I find it consistently good and everything grows well in it – short or long-term. I used New Horizon in this tray using a soil blocker to make squares of compost to plant into.
Is peat good for the environment?
You might know peat as a dark, earthy substance sold in plastic bags as garden compost. But there’s more to peat than that. It’s an incredibly important natural ally in the fight against climate change; it’s a rich haven for wildlife; it improves water quality and it helps reduce flood risk.
Which is best peat free compost?
Peat-free compost
- Carbon Gold grochar peat-free all purpose compost – 20 litres. crocus.co.uk.
- Dalefoot Compost Wool Compost.
- Sylvagrow multipurpose compost peat free – 15 litres.
- Peat-free expanding coco grow plus compost – 75 litres.
- Peat-free botanical houseplant coconut compost – 4 litres.
- 20 coir growing pellets.
Is peat free compost good for tomatoes?
Dalefoot Composts have launched a new compost – Dalefoot Wool Compost for tomatoes – a peat free compost made from natural organic ingredients including wool and bracken. I’ve been testing this compost this year, this is a water retentive compost that contains all the nutrients tomatoes need for healthy growth.
Is peat-free compost better for the environment?
Is peat good for gardens?
Gardeners use peat moss mainly as a soil amendment or ingredient in potting soil. It has an acid pH, so it’s ideal for acid loving plants, such as blueberries and camellias. Peat moss doesn’t contain harmful microorganisms or weed seeds that you may find in poorly processed compost.
Why is peat-free compost better for the environment?
Why is peat-free compost better for the environment? Peat used in compost is dug up from peatlands, which are created when plant material slowly builds up in waterlogged landscapes. Peatlands are important because they absorb and store carbon; reducing the amount of carbon in the atmosphere is vital to tackling climate change.
How can you help preserve peat fields?
You can help by buying peat-free compost for use in your own garden or allotment, and encouraging retailers and the Government in their efforts to phase out the use of peat in gardening products. We’re working to preserve and protect peat fields like this National Trust Images / Leo Mason.
Why not use peat bogs?
There are many reasons for not using peat; firstly, peat renews at approximately 1mm per year, therefore it is considered a non-renewable resource. Secondly, peat bogs store carbon, a lot of carbon.
What is peat and why is it so important?
Peat is an important natural resource, providing carbon storage and natural flood defences. However, it has also historically been popular with gardeners as a growing medium for their plants. The National Trust has had peat-free gardens for years, and now you can do the same by shopping at Morden Hall Park Garden Centre.