Re: peat moss

In a message dated 03/18/2001 7:01:55 PM Central Standard Time,
HoroRL@AOL.COM writes:

<<
 May I ask why not to use peat moss in new plantings?  Does it have to do with
 the fact that it's not a renewable resource?

 Last year, I tried using soilless mixes that used coir.

 Hostally,

 Rich >>

Its about as renewable as you get.

Peatmoss does not provide any benefit to new tree or shrub plants, in does
not hold water or nutrients.  I wish I had keep the report, but a few years
ago a test was done.

The results were that soils that were amended at the time of planting with
peat moss did worse than none amended soils.
 Tree and shrub roots need good contact with the soil-they spread out along
the top on the soil line, peatmoss prevents the roots from having this good
contact.

I like peatmoss my self for perennial plants but I mix it in the soils over
the whole bed and of coarse its invaluable as a potting medium.

The worst thing to do is dig a hole and dump a lot of raw peatmoss in and
them put your plant ontop of that.

When I plant trees or shrubs I get a bag of good soil- heavy works well and
dig my hole-as large as the plant needs- say at least twice the size of the
pot and mix the bagged soil in at the bottom of the hole with the natural
soil. ( I also try to wash off some of the soil around the roots with the
hose just before planting) Plant and stamp down lightly and water in very
well so that the soil has no air spaces left. Top dress with compost of more
good soil.

I go threw a lot of peatmoss but none of it ends up in my tree or shrub
plantings.

I would wager that clay is better for your trees than peatmoss.

If you want the soil to hold more moisture-it is better to use a good thick
layer of compost on top of the plantings or use a piece of landscape fabric
ontop of the ground and put wood chips or compost ontop of the fabric.

I guess I got carried away.

Paul
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index