What does ‘peat-free’ compost mean?
What does ‘peat-free’ mean and why is it important? If compost isn't labelled as 'peat-free' it is likely to contain 60-90% peat. Peat has been traditionally used by gardeners as a soil improver, but it's now time to change this practice. Peat is a natural product made from composted mosses and plants in waterlogged, acidic bogs.
Can you use peat free compost for potting soil?
Buy peat-free potting compost for raising plants in pots. Mix it with garden soil for plants that will be in their pots for more than a year. Try to buy plants that have been grown in peat-free compost. You may need to ask the nursery or garden centre about this.
How do I Go peat-free in my garden?
Rebecca Bevan, Senior National Consultant for Cultivated Plants at the National Trust, shares her advice for peat-free gardening. Buy peat-free potting compost for raising plants in pots. Mix it with garden soil for plants that will be in their pots for more than a year. Try to buy plants that have been grown in peat-free compost.
How often do you feed peat compost?
'Peat composts contain controlled-release fertilizer, but organic peat-frees may need feeding after three weeks, although it varies from brand to brand. Green-waste compost contains a lot of nutrients, but they are released more slowly, especially nitrogen, so they may need an initial boost of feed.'
What is the benefit of peat free compost?
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. Most peat-free composts are carefully blended to provide optimum growing conditions and the quality and reliability continue to improve.
What is the difference between compost and peat free?
Peat-free compost is – you've guessed it – compost which doesn't use any peat in it at all. It's important to note that many multipurpose compost products include peat, which isn't always clear at first glance. However, peat-free compost is becoming increasingly available to buy.
Is peat compost better than peat free?
Besides peat-free composts being better for the environment and made from sustainable organic materials, it's starting to become clear that most mixes of peat free compost are extremely high in nutrients, and are bulky, which make them great soil improvers over others that can be too fine.
How do you make peat free compost?
Now mix your own peat-free compost I use 3 parts loam, 2 parts sieved home-made garden compost and one part leafmould. This gives a good, loamy compost that's fertile and retains moisture.
Which is the best garden compost?
For an all purpose compost, Coco Grow + is an ideal option with this compressed blend of 80 per cent natural coco coir brick and 20 per cent perlite. This is perfect to use for sowing seeds and potting, rooting cuttings, or potting succulents. But it's also suitable for general planting in the garden.
Is organic compost peat free?
Buyer Beware. If a bag of compost isn't clearly labelled with the words peat-free then it almost certainly isn't, and words like 'organic', 'sustainable' and 'environmentally friendly' on bags don't mean peat-free either.
Can I grow vegetables in peat free compost?
Peat-free compost Many composts can serve double duty as mulch as well. Most peat-free composts contain healthy microorganisms that offer nutrition and aeration to vegetables and herbs.
Why does my peat free compost smell?
Compost pile is compacted – Compost piles need oxygen (aeration) to decompose the organic material properly. If your compost pile gets compacted, the compost will start to smell. Compost that has too little aeration will smell putrid or like rotting eggs.
Why should we not use peat?
Plantlife, along with the RSPB, Wildlife Trusts and Friends of the Earth, is calling on government and industry to replace peat use in gardening and horticulture. Damaging peatlands has a knock-on effect on wildlife, carbon stores, flood risk and water quality.
How can I make my soil peat free?
DIY Indoor Plant Mix Recipe (Peat-Free)2 parts sterilized compost.2 parts peat moss alternative (see recipe above)1 part worm castings.1 part perlite.1 part vermiculite.1 part sand.
What potting soil is peat free?
Compost and coconut coir are good primary peat alternatives. Gardeners are also experimenting with bark fines and coarse sand.
What's the difference between peat and compost?
(Peat moss is the bottom layer.) Compost is made as everyday waste materials decompose into nutrient-rich soil. Peat moss is sterile, has an acidic pH, and is not high in nutrients or microorganisms. Compost is high in both nutrients and microorganisms and has either a neutral or slightly alkaline pH.
Is peat better than compost?
Peat moss releases nutrients in your soil in time as the plants require. This saves valuable nutrients which are otherwise lost through leaching. Peat Moss speeds the composting process, reduces odours and controls air and water in the compost pile.
Should I use peat based compost?
The natural nutrients in peat, present due to the partially decomposed plant material, make it the easiest medium to use to give gardens a kick-start. Hence, amateur gardeners are the biggest users of peat-based composts. It is also the only viable option for certain specialist plants.
Is Miracle Gro All Purpose compost peat free?
Miracle-Gro® Peat Free Premium All-Purpose Compost is part of the high-performing Miracle Gro peat-free range. Containing a unique formulation that will ensure your plants are fed for 3 months, this peat free compost provides the optimum structure for roots to grow strong and preventing them from drying out.
Can I grow vegetables in peat free compost?
Peat-free compost Many composts can serve double duty as mulch as well. Most peat-free composts contain healthy microorganisms that offer nutrition and aeration to vegetables and herbs.
What is in peat-free compost?
Peat-free composts are typically made up from materials such as wood fibre, composted bark, coir and, to a lesser extent, composted garden waste. However, you can also find composts containing sterilised soil, vermiculite, perlite, grit and manure. There is even one series of composts made from composted bracken and sheep’s wool. It’s likely new materials will be have to be used to fill the gap left by the peat ban.
Why is peat free compost less common?
In the past, peat-free composts were largely made from green compost, but it’s becoming less common due to problems with its variability and nutrient balance. It’s a widely available and cheap material as it’s made from the green waste collected by local authorities or from municipal waste sites.
How does peat work?
Peat acts as a carbon sink, locking in large amounts of carbon. To harvest it for use in compost, the bogs are drained and cleared of all vegetation. Harvesting not only removes around 20cm layer of peat every year, in other words, a century’s worth of peat accumulation, but allows the exposed peat to oxide, releasing carbon dioxide.
Why is green compost bad for plants?
Due to its make-up, green compost often suffers from high levels of chlorides, which can prevent plants from taking up the nitrogen needed for leafy green growth. It often contains large amounts of potassium, which can cause calcium and magnesium deficiencies in the plant.
What is peat made of?
Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter, created from sphagnum mosses growing in bogs. It accumulates at a rate of 1-2mm per year and is harvested for use in compost and burning in electricity generation. Peat acts as a carbon sink, locking in large amounts of carbon. To harvest it for use in compost, the bogs are ...
Why are peat bogs important?
Peat bogs are also an invaluable habitat for flora and fauna, supporting many rare and vulnerable native species not found anywhere else. Peat extraction wipes out the entire eco-system and although habitat regeneration schemes are now being attempted, there is no guarantee these will succeed. Peat bogs also create natural flood defences, soaking up excess rainfall and releasing it slowly.
How long does it take for compost to run out?
Most composts contain a small amount of fertilisers, but this runs out after four to six weeks. Keep a close eye on your plants and add a liquid feed if the growth or flowering of your plants slows down. Always feed coir-only compost.
What is peat-free compost?
An eco-friendly alternative to peat-based composts are peat-free composts. These contain wood-based materials, such as composted bark, sawdust, wood or paper waste. Sometimes green waste collected and composted by local authorities is added, while other ingredients such a coconut fibre or ‘coir’ may be put in to create drainage and a better root run. Loam, bracken or wool and slow-release fertiliser may also feature.
Why isn’t all compost peat-free compost?
Peat has been a major and familiar ingredient of compost used in gardening since the 1960s, and while we now use less of it, we still use too much, according to the environmental organisation Friends of the Earth.
How can I tell if compost is peat-free?
Unless the bag you’re buying is clearly labelled peat-free, it will contain peat. Multi-purpose composts typically contain between 70% and 100% peat while references to organic material, ‘eco-friendly’ and ‘sustainable’ do not mean peat-free. Peat-free brands include Melcourt and Dalefoot.
How much carbon is in peatland?
The UK’s estimated 2.6 million hectares of peatland contain about 3 billion tonnes of carbon and when the peat is dug up for use in compost, carbon dioxide and methane (another greenhouse gas) are released. In fact, we’re digging peat up so fast that peatlands are losing more carbon than they are gaining, with only 13% of UK peatlands now in ...
How to improve soil?
2. Use manure to improve soil. If you are looking for an effective soil improver, well-rotted manure is a great option and can work out cheaper than compost, particularly if you can collect from a local stables. Related Story. 4 green cleaners that actually work! 3.
Is peat free compost more expensive than peat free compost?
At the moment, peat-free compost tends to be more expensive than peat versions, so look for multibuy offers to help bring the cost down.
When will B&Q go 100% peat free?
Early champions of peat-free include B&Q – which has pledged to go 100% peat-free in 2023 – and the National Trust. Of the supermarkets, Waitrose is aiming to switch to 100% peat-free compost by the start of 2022, becoming the second major chain to do so after a similar announcement in April by the Co-op.
Why do gardeners bulk buy peat?
It is for this reason that some gardeners will also bulk-buy peat in order to add to raised beds so they stay moist.
Why is peat not renewable?
Why go peat free? 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. In fact the equivalent of 20 years of industrial carbon is stored in British peat bogs alone.
What are the birds that live in peat bogs?
Thirdly, peat bogs are home to a huge array of flora and fauna that thrive in such conditions. This includes birds, such as snipe and the skylark, which breed on peat bogs, as do many butterflies and dragonflies. Although some peat is used as fuel, the vast majority of it is used by gardeners.
How long does it take to make compost?
The easy bin bag method can take up to two years to obtain a good result, but the chicken wire method can be much quicker at just six months. At the end of this period you will have an ideal multi purpose compost to rival any peat compost.
Is peat used as fuel?
Although some peat is used as fuel, the vast majority of it is used by gardeners. It seems in our attempt to create our own little wilderness that we are selfishly robbing another.
Can you make your own potting compost from leaf mould?
If you want a free option then you will have to have patience but the final option is perhaps the most ecological of all - making your own potting compost from leafmould.
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Why is peat so important?
Peatlands are vital in the fight against both the causes and effects of climate change. Peatlands around the world hold twice as much carbon than the world’s forests, while offering precious habitats for vital wildlife and plant species, as well as preserving high quality archaeological sites. But extraction, draining damage and other activities means that carbon stored by peatlands is being released. This equates to more than 5 per cent of all global human carbon emissions.
How has peatland been damaged?
Some of our peatland has been damaged in the past by drainage, over-grazing, burning and extraction. We’re working hard to reverse these negative impacts and are now managing and restoring many of our sites to create resilient eco-systems, which will increase carbon storage capacity and reduce emissions.
How did Malham Tarn's peat bogs get damaged?
Malham Tarn's peat bogs have been damaged not just by peat-cutting, but also by livestock grazing and the cutting of drainage ditches. The restoration of the bogs will benefit local wildlife as well as returning the area to its natural state.
What is peat based compost?
Peat-based compost is made from peat, a product naturally found in the bottom of waterlogged bogs. There are benefits and drawbacks to using peat-based compost based on what it does to enhance your soil as well as the environmental factors of harvesting peat. Here are some pros and cons of using peat-free compost vs. peat-based compost, to help you make your gardening decisions.
What is compost used for?
It helps vegetables and herbs retain moisture and prevent pests and diseases. Compost has helped my vegetable garden thrive over the years and is my number one recommendation when someone asks me what they can do to improve their soil quality. Compost can be made from worm castings, leaves, and even kitchen scraps. For decades, peat-based compost was a top choice among gardeners for its moisture and nutrient retention.
Can you make compost in your backyard?
You can make your own compost in your backyard using different methods.
Can compost be used as mulch?
Many composts can serve double duty as mulch as well.
Can compost kill weeds?
Compost can contain weed seeds that won’t be killed off if compost is does not reach high enough temperatures.
How much peat is in compost?
If compost isn't labelled as 'peat-free' it is likely to contain 60-90% peat. Peat has been traditionally used by gardeners as a soil improver, but it's now time to change this practice.
What happens when peat is extracted from a bog?
In fact, when peat is extracted from a bog it will dry out and eventually die. This results in the stored carbon being released into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming, and making the bog uninhabitable.
Why are peat bogs called the UK rainforest?
Peat bogs are often referred to as the 'UK Rainforests' because they crucially absorb and store carbon (the combined estimate is around 500 metric gigatons!).
Can we save peat bogs?
Education is key; if we reduce the demand for peat, we can save the peat bogs. If you're purchasing compost, shop smart and select 'peat free', the bogs need you!
Why peat free is not a like-for-like replacement
Having bought compost in this way for years, consumers just think of it as bags of ‘dark brown crumbly stuff’ that they use for everything from container gardening ideas and hanging baskets to soil regeneration, but they have never had to think about what is actually in that ‘stuff’ and how its composition needs to be treated to get the best result..
Why peat-free compost will cost more
There's no doubt that peat-free compost will cost a lot more. Steve Harper, CEO of peat-free specialist Southern Trident, predicted industry-wide price hikes in a recent issue of Amateur Gardening. He suggested that a 50-litre bag could rise from an average of £6 to as much as £9 in the UK.
Lack of clear guidance on how to use peat-free compost
When it comes to actually using peat-free compost in their pots, garden borders and flower beds, I think the consumer will have an unexpected challenge. I think many will just use peat free in the same manner they did peat-based products and not be aware that watering and plant-food regimes need to be different (depending on each brand recipe).
My own experience with peat-free compost
In 2021 I conducted my own test of peat-free compost by growing vegetables in pots. I opted for potatoes and had six containers using peat-free and six in multi-purpose peat compost. A couple of weeks into the test I noted that while the peat compost was holding its water, the peat-free compost was dry at the top.
What Amateur Gardening readers say about peat-free compost
When I asked the Amateur Gardening readers to tell me their experiences of using peat free the responses were not very positive.
My peat-free compost key findings
No peat-free multi-purpose compost currently replicates the water distribution and nutrient-holding properties of peat compost.
What's next for peat free?
I don’t believe that the peat-free composts currently available are a true like-for-like replacement for multi-purpose peat compost for the general gardening public. I think some of the compost producers have over-sold their products as direct replacements – and they are not.
