For Peat's sake!

Does your favourite compost look different this year?

It should do, as up to 20% of the Peat content has been replaced by "recycled green waste".
The government wants peat usage cut by 90% in the next 4 years!
For some years now the use of Peat has caused controversy between environmentalists and the horticultural industry.

Peat is a finite resource and in some parts of Britain the Peat Bogs have already closed. This is why much of the Peat now being used is imported from Scandinavia and Russia. This foreign Peat is a lighter brown colour than the Peat we are used to.
The race to find substitutes for Peat has been on for some time and so far the results have been mixed but getting better all the time.

Peat has 3 main uses:

• As a fuel. This isn't important in the UK but many countries like Ireland still use a lot of Peat for heating.
• As a mulch. Ground or composted Bark is an ideal substitute for Peat and actually lasts longer in the ground before breaking down.
• As a base for Compost making. This is where the main problem lies as most Composts are Peat based

There is an old adage in gardening that goes "there's nothing new under the sun" and
low Peat composts are nothing new. The John Innes range of Composts is soil based and consequently low in Peat.
A few years age I couldn't have put my hand on my heart and recommended any of the "low Peat" and "Peat free" composts but the newer ones are much improved.
Whether we like it or not we are going to have to get used to life in the garden without Peat.

Article provided by Ron from West Carlston Garden Centre in Torrance.

Ron can be contacted at info@westcarlston.com

This week's Competition: Name any low Peat Levington Compost.

The sender of the first correct e-mail will receive a £10 Gift Voucher.

Copywrite R. McInally