What is peat?
If you’re an avid gardener you’ve no doubt heard of peat, even if only from reading “peat-free” labels. You’ll see it mentioned in some way in every garden centre, and may even have heard its usage debated.
But what is peat? Well, it’s a type of turf that makes up the surface organic layer in soil. It’s mostly made of decomposed organic matter such as decayed vegetation, and can often be found in natural areas known as peatlands as well as moors and bogs.
Peat is formed through waterlogging and lack of oxygen, as well as low nutrients and acidity in the soil. The way peat is formed varies depending on the temperature of the area, and its definition and purpose can mean different things in different places across the world.
When it comes to gardening, there are many benefits of peat, so it has historically been used for mulching and soil improvement. Because the thick mulch easily retains moisture, it has been a popular choice for filling soil beds. Peat also has traces of lime, which improves the pH levels of soil for optimum seed growing.
However, in recent years, there have been debates on whether peat is actually more damaging than initially believed, with many earth-cultivators opting for peat alternatives instead.
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