Re: Peat moss

Hi Nan.  I would ask her, but soils happens to be one of my 
all-time favorite topics.  And I actually know something about 
this.  If you don't object, I'm just going to copy in a slightly 
edited version of a note I posted on another list today in 
response to the same question.  I'm certain others on the list 
have alternatives as well.  

Please remember, this is all my opinion. fwiw.
Long ago I determined that peat does little to nothing as a soil 
amendment so I have limited it's use to what it is supremely 
good at.  I've been hauling around the same bale for 8 years 
now.  Since it is apparently common knowledge that peat is a 
non-renewable resource, surely there are others on the list
that have come up with alternatives.

First I'd like to say there there are a few applications for 
which peat is pretty much indispensible as far as I can tell.  
Most notably, that is in the form of milled sphagnum sifted on 
the top of seeds to help prevent damping off and for air 
layering.  I'm sure there are a couple of other applications as 
well.  If that were all we used peat for, there likely wouldn't 
be much of a problem with bog destruction.

There is a product that seems to be available pretty much 
everywhere in North America (per discussions with other 
gardeners around the country and Canada).  It is a soiless mix 
material that is wood-based.  I've been using it for a couple of 
years now and I absolutely love the stuff.  It goes by several 
different names depending on the distributor (large distributors 
use their own labelling and names) but it is made by a Canadian 
company called ASB-Greenworld with distribution points in 
Ontario, New Brunswick and Valdosta, Georgia.  

I've had no problems with damping off, molds or any of the other 
common problems of seed starting.  In fact, the shredded wood 
particles hold moisture better (not scientifically proven, 
simply my observation) yet drains faster than peat.  It's quite 
inexpensive, though I've not been able to find it baled yet.

Most frequently however, people use peat moss as a soil 
amendment.  Many garden writers recommend it.  I simply am 
unable to find any benefit whatsoever from peat as a soil 
amendment.  

Tilth is better improved by the addition of leaf mold, good 
humus, compost, coffee grounds and wood chips.  With the 
exception of coffee grounds, each of these materials have far 
more nutrients for plant growth than peat, which is a nearly 
sterile material nutritionally speaking.  Further all of these 
materials improve soil drainage at the same time as they improve 
the moisture holding ability of soil.  

If peat is desired for soil acidification, there are a number of 
methods of acidifying soil that are more effective than peat.  
Changing the pH of soil is a difficult matter under any 
circumstances.  Aluminum sulfate is an excellent amendment for 
the purpose and very little is needed even for growing 
blueberries.

Composting is not necessary in order to amend soil.  Tom 
Clothier's article on manufacturing soil 
(http://www.anet-chi.com/~manytimes/page4.htm) is an 
extraordinarily good article and is well worth reading.  I have 
added well over one hundred cubic yards of organic material to 
my clay & rock soil over the past 4 years and only in an 
experimental plot did I add peat moss. (I can talk about that 
another time, if anyone is interested.)  

My sticky yellow, sometimes grey clay and super-compressed soil 
has become positively magnificent stuff over that period of 
time.  My major admendments have been wood chips (all free) and 
municipal humus/leaf mold (extremely reasonably priced).  I have 
not noticed a nitrogen depletion problem from the wood chips 
mixed into the soil.  If or when I do, it is easily and 
inexpensively remedied.

Free organic soil amendments:
(Part of this list is from Kay Lancaster's methods as well as my 
own; we are both relatively cheap & our minds obviously work in 
similar ways. :)

+  Stop any landscaping company or tree service in your area and 
ask for the chips, grass, leaves.  They will most always be more 
than delighted to give them to you.  If you don't want to 
compost or don't have a chipper, just take the grass clippings 
(great mulch) and chips.  [The other day when I was writing on 
this same topic, I had to walk up to town.  I saw a heretofore 
unknown landscaping company with two trucks, one hauling a 
large commercial chipper.  I looked and both trucks were filled 
with chips.  They were eating lunch at the deli.  I stopped and 
asked them what they were planning on doing with all those 
lovely chips.  They were in my driveway by the time I got back 
home.]  I now have 6 tree service/landscaping companies that 
regularly drop goodies in my driveway whenever they are in the 
vicinity.  :)

+  Most municipalities now compost "yard waste" aka "garden 
gold".  My county will deliver a finely screened 4-5 cu. yd. 
truckload of rich, black humus/leaf mold for the cost of the 
guy, the truck & fuel.  Plus it helps to provide ongoing funding 
for the composting operation ~ better than raising taxes to do 
it.  Check with your local recycling center, shade tree 
commission, park service or similar organization.  I have heard 
reports of viable seed in this type of material.  I can only say 
I have not experienced it.  Solarizing a neat pile of humus is a 
pretty simple task if you have those concerns.  I will say that 
this sort of material is a weed seed magnet, so I keep mine 
covered. 

+  With all the coffee bars around, many will save the grounds 
for you.  This is absolutely marvelous for acid loving plants & 
does wonders for tilth.

+  Many grocery stores, produce stores will save the spoiled 
stuff if you do compost.  Not many quicker, easier ways to get a 
lot of green stuff for your compost heap.

+  For those of you living near a shore, seaweed that has 
washed ashore is free for the taking.  Simply rinse it off to 
get rid of the sand and salt.  This is FABULOUS stuff.

I could go on in this vein ad nauseum, but I'll stop here.  All 
you need to do is think about it to come up with great ideas of 
things to add to soil.  Oh yes, I always forget about gypsum ~ 
drywall leftovers are wonderful additions to soil.  See your 
local drywall guy, he'll most likely be tickled to give you the 
tailings.

I've rambled on ... I'm sure I'm forgetting things, but I think 
this is probably an adequate start for a discussion on 
alternatives to peat. 

Best regards,
Jaime

> Thanks for the information, I had wondered about peat moss.  Can you ask
> your friend about appropriate alternatives?  I'd like to know what to use
> instead.
> 
> Nan
"I have no particular talent. I am merely inquisitive."
 A. Einstein

jknoble@warwick.net
Z6/5, NW NJ
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