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Peat Moss - For Natural Lawn Care And A Perfect Soil

What is peat moss
Peat moss is the decayed remains of sphagnum moss. It is found in very moist conditions such as bogs where it can be cut out, dried and retailed for use in gardening.

Composting and Peat Moss are the magical cure for many lawns

The dried product - which is what we buy from our gardening stores - holds many times its own weight in water and this, with the fibrous nature of the peat moss, make it an excellent additive to certain types of soil.

It especially beneficial for a great looking lawn. Grass roots need to grow at least 3 inches deep, but often our soil type won't allow that. Compost and or an addition of peat moss will greatly enhance the soil structure and therefore the quality of your lawn.

Peat Moss and Natural Lawn care go hand in hand

Peat Moss Compost and Sandy Soils

Sandy or clay soils that need extra mulch added to them often benefit from the addition of peat moss. The moss retains moisture so that makes it a welcome additive to potting mixtures; in fact, it is the main ingredient in some mixes.

Peat Moss and Mulch definitely decrease the need for watering

There are some applications where peat moss has been found to exacerbate the problems caused by drought. The perfect solution in dry periods to keep all plants and lawns healthy without constantly watering and spraying.

That is in areas where it has been added to heavy clay soils and then allowed to dry out - or rather, it has dried out due to drought conditions and insufficient water being available.

Heavy Clay Soils, The solution... well you guessed it

It forms a hard dry mass that moisture finds very hard to penetrate. Since it degrades slowly, this problem takes several months or longer to rectify. Peat moss has also been found to cause the soil to acidify due to the way it absorbs certain nutrients such as calcium and magnesium, releasing hydrogen ions in their place.

Gardeners find that adding peat moss is best when there is enough water available to keep it moist. If their soil is extremely sandy they can add peat moss and continually dig it through the soil along with other fertilizers and in one season their soil is greatly improved.

Those with clay soils vary in their liking of peat moss as a soil additive. Some believe it should be left in the peat bogs from whence it originated. It should always be mixed thoroughly with the soil and does help clay to drain more efficiently.

The insulation capabilities of Peat Moss

Since peat moss also has great insulating properties it is used in mushrooms production, for lining hanging baskets, to grow young orchids in, and even as a substrate for tarantulas as they find it easy to burrow into.

Peat takes thousands of years to form and so harvesting of it must be limited to preserve the bogs and the peat moss. To use, it should be thoroughly broken apart with the hands or done with a grinder.

Place some in the bottom of the hole when planting flowers, making sure it is broken up well and add some humus or compost over the top. It can also be spread over the top of the garden.

Vote for Mother Nature

Again a vote for the help of Mother Nature when it comes to gardening. And no wonder that biological gardening works so well, it took billions of years for evolution to find ways to achieve balance. It would be illogical that as humans we would be capable of throwing in some chemicals and expect an even better result.



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