I’m currently in the process of making plans for my new garden. I want it to be much more wildlife and insect friendly than it currently is (it’s just a lawn) and I’d really like to grow some vegetables too, although I might be lucky enough to get an allotment soon. One thing I know I should be doing is buying peat free compost, but why? What’s the problem with peat based compost and why should we avoid it?
What is Peat?
“Peat, also known as turf, is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter. It is unique to natural areas called peatlands, bogs, mires, moors, or muskegs. The peatland ecosystem is the most efficient carbon sink on the planet, because peatland plants capture CO2 naturally released from the peat, maintaining an equilibrium.”
– wikipedia
Why is Peat important?
Many peat bogs are classed as SSSI’s – Sites of Special Scientific Interest. This is partly due to their ability to ‘sequester’ CO2 but also because peat bogs are home to plants and wildlife that can’t thrive in other environments, such as dragonflies, hen harriers, curlews and ‘bog mosses’.
Storing Carbon – peatlands sequester more carbon than all other types of vegetation the world over.
Flood Mitigation – “Healthy peatlands can reduce flood risk by slowing the flow of water from the uplands, and by providing floodplain storage in the lowlands.” – UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Natural Water Filter – “As water infiltrates through the air spaces between the grains of solid material in peat, it is naturally filtered. Debris, leaves, insects, chemicals and minerals are retained in the soil as water drains through.” – Peat is Neat
Biodiversity – Some vulnerable and endangered wildlife thrives in peatlands. The restoration of peatlands should help these species to recover as the habitat loss has contributed to their downfall.
Carbon sequestration = ‘the long-term storage of carbon in plants, soils, geologic formations, and the ocean.’ – Britannica
Learn more eco terminology.
Have a read about how we burn peat-rich Grouse Moors and the connection to flooding due to bad land management just to enable people to shoot grouse.
What is Peat Used For?
Peat is not only widely used in gardening, but also as an alternative to firewood. Peat is sold as briquettes for fuel and are very cheap compared to firewood or many other fuels. With peat being a natural way to filter water, in a healthy peatland, it has also been used to filter water in aquariums.
Why is Peat Used For Gardening?
There are a few different reasons that peat based compost is so popular with gardeners.
- Habit – People buy what they know.
- Cost – Peat based compost is often cheaper.
- Availability – the majority of compost currently for sale is not peat free, although this is improving.
- Ignorance – Lots of people still don’t know, or understand, the environmental impact of peat extraction.
It wasn’t until the middle of the last century that using peat became popular, and it took a while for its popularity to rise. Now that there is a greater understanding of how important peat bogs are, alternatives are becoming easier to find but they are still slightly more expensive. However, as with everything else, if demand rises then the cost will come down as garden centres and supermarkets can buy in bulk.
Unfortunately even though alternatives are becoming easier to find it seems that we still use the same amount of peat based compost simply because more people are gardening or taking an interest in their garden. Every bag of peat based compost you don’t buy helps the planet!
Peat Free Compost – The Alternatives
- Bark
- Green compost
- Wood waste
- Wood fibre
- Coir*
- Homemade compost
*Coir is Coconut Fibre – a waste product
Each of the alternatives listed has its own advantages and disadvantages. Some are better for certain plants and uses. For example, using homemade compost for seedlings is generally not advised due to the possibility of it containing fungal pathogens. Always read the labels to find out the best peat alternative for your specific purpose.
Is Organic Compost Peat Free?
Even though we tend to assume if something is organic it’s also eco-friendly this is not always the case. If the bag is not specifically labelled as peat free it’s extremely likely that it does contain peat.
Is Environmentally Friendly Compost Peat Free?
If it doesn’t specify that it’s peat free then calling it environmentally friendly is probably a little bit of greenwashing on the manufacturers part.
RHS Policy on Peat
The Royal Horticultural Society uses as little peat as possible. They stopped selling peat based compost earlier this year (2020). They offer advice on peat free growing and provide information about the impact of peat at the point of sale. The only time they use peat is for certain rare and exotic plants where there is currently no suitable alternative available.
Defra Policy on Peat
Back in 2010, Defra, under a Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition released a press release stating
“The horticultural industry has made real progress in reducing peat use, but I want to see peat eliminated from the amateur gardener market by 2020. We need to go further if we are to protect our natural environment and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“This will be challenging, but more sustainable and good quality peat-free alternatives are already available, and I believe it is achievable for peat to be phased out in all markets before 2030.”
– Government calls for peat to be phase out.
I emailed the current Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, George Eustice, to find out what progress has been made, because even though their aims were admirable, as far as I can see very little has been done to reduce the amount of peat compost for sale. My original email to him was sent on the 9th March 2020. I’ve followed it up today on the 18th March 2021 to see if he can find the time to reply to me this time. I’ll update this article as soon as I hear from his office. In the meantime, please sign this petition asking the Government to “Ban the use of peat in gardening and horticulture“.
Update 26/11/23
“In England, a ban on selling peat for use as garden compost should have been introduced next year. But it has been pushed back to 2027 for some products and 2030 for some professional users.” – BBC
Read about other things you should avoid buying in a garden centre.
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Main Image: Field Peat Cutting Par Jon Sullivan — Public Domain Image, Link
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