Will Peat Moss Damage Your Garden?

For many gardeners, peat moss is a trusted soil helper. It is often marketed as one of the best soil amendments and is frequently used in DIY soil mixes. It improves soil water-holding capacity, improves compaction, and is pest-free. How? Well, it creates little pockets within the soil, allowing it to retain several times its weight in water. That extra storage eases drought stress, especially for plants in dry areas. Sandy soils especially respond well to peat moss. Peat moss also improves compacted and clay soils by increasing soil aeration. Gardeners frequently use peat moss for growing blueberries and azaleas. These plants thrive in acidic soils, and peat moss reduces soil pH, which creates a welcoming and flourishing environment for these picky growers. The best part? Peat moss is sterile if sourced properly. It has no weeds, no bugs, thus, no nasty surprises. But hold that excitement for a moment! 

When you dig a little deeper, it suddenly becomes obvious that peat moss isn't that perfect. Its overuse can cause problems. Peat moss has a low nutrient profile, which means your garden could end up begging for fertilizer if it's used alone. Also, when used frequently, it can lower soil pH, and that's no treat for lime-loving plants or those that prefer neutral soils. Also, the environmental concerns amplify the "damage" story. To put it simply, in the short term, the use of peat moss will definitely improve soil in some gardens. However, the way peat moss changes soil chemistry, and its other long-term impacts, need to be evaluated carefully before its use in each situation.

There are a few things to consider when trying to make a decision about the use of peat moss. The most important being what your plants need, the condition of the soil in your garden is in, and last but not least, how much you care about environmental sustainability. For instance, if you are using peat moss as a soil amendment, don't use it alone! It is almost always a better idea to mix it with organic fertilizer, compost, or something else, depending on the soil. Peat moss has a very low nutrient profile, and using it in lieu of a fertilizer, especially for extended periods, can harm your garden if the soil is already deficient. Second thing to consider is the environmental impact that is associated with extracting peat moss. It is harvested from ancient bogs where sphagnum moss has been slowly breaking down over centuries. 

And, it is not something that happens quickly! Taking it out of bogs disrupts the local ecosystem and has a very significant impact on the native plants and animals. This is also one of the reasons why some countries have banned the extraction and use of peat moss. So, all in all, you can use peat moss, but strategically. It fixes some of common gardening issues, but the bigger picture favors restraint in its use. You can think of peat moss as a specialty ingredient, not the main course. Also, you can look into its alternatives. For example, coconut coir offers similar moisture and aeration benefits minus the environmental cost.