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Great for plants that need acidic soil: Gardeners often use peat moss to manage soil pH. When planting species that thrive in acidic soil—such as blueberries or azaleas—mix peat moss into your potting soil to achieve an acidic pH. Peat moss can also help neutralize alkaline soil by bringing down the overall pH.
What plants is peat moss good for?
Because of its low pH, peat moss is very suitable for vegetables and fruits that require an acidic environment. These include blueberries, pieris, heathers, azaleas, camellias, tomatoes, and so on.
Why is it bad to use peat moss?
Most of the gardeners suggested that peat moss was a mulch to put on top of the soil. As a soil amendment, which is what the baled product is mostly sold for, peat moss is also a poor choice. It breaks down too fast, compressing and squeezing air out of the soil, creating an unhealthy condition for plant roots.
What is peat moss best used for?
Gardeners use peat moss mainly as a soil amendment or ingredient in potting soil. It has an acid pH, so it’s ideal for acid loving plants, such as blueberries and camellias. For plants that like a more alkaline soil, compost may be a better choice.
Should I add peat moss to my soil?
Peat moss helps the soil hold nutrients by increasing what is called the CEC or “cation exchange capacity.” Peat moss has a low pH, so if you use much, lime should be added as well. Plants that do well in acidic soils, termed “ericaceous” such as blueberries and rhododendrons, benefit from peat moss.
How do you use peat moss in a vegetable garden?
Cornell University recommends that garden soil be amended with one-third peat moss. In the vegetable garden, evenly incorporate the material into the soil about 12 inches deep. Since peat moss offers no plant nutrients, you might turn garden compost or well-rotted manure into the soil alongside the peat moss.
How do you use peat moss plants indoors?
Soak your peat thoroughly before adding it into your potting soil. Place it in a bucket and fill it up with water, stirring the peat around and letting it sit for a few minutes. It’s naturally a bit moisture-resistant at first, so it takes a little while to start absorbing water.
Is peat moss good for potted plants?
Almost any potted plant you can buy grows in a soil mix that contains peat moss, and most bagged potting soil does, too. It’s especially useful for growing flowers and food in containers because it helps these thirsty plants get the moisture they need.
Should I use peat moss in my raised bed?
Peat moss is used to add structure and water holding capacity to your raised beds. Oddly it both promotes great drainage and holds water that plant roots can access as needed. Peat moss has a rather wide quality range and using the best quality peat moss you can afford is recommended.
Can peat moss be used as mulch?
Peat moss may have a place as a component of potting mix used in containers (mostly because it’s lightweight), but I wouldn’t recommend using it as a mulch. Peat moss should be mixed into soil. Top dressing with peat is a bad idea because wind will blow it around and rain will harden it.
Can you mix peat moss with garden soil?
One thing that sets peat moss apart is its high capacity to absorb water. It can retain water far better than your average soil. When you mix it with your soil, it significantly increases the water retention rate of your soil. This ensures that your plant can enjoy better access to water for improved growth.
Is peat good for plants?
Around 70 per cent of peat is used in horticulture, much by amateur gardeners who have long considered it the best way of encouraging plant growth. It is rich in nutrients, being made up of partially decomposed plant material that has not decayed fully because of local conditions.
How do you use peat moss with grass seed?
Adding Peat Moss No matter what stage the grass seeds are at, cover the area with about 1/4 inch of peat moss. Immediately water the peat moss lightly with a water sprayer set on mist. Then, continue watering the peat moss twice a day until the seedlings are about 1/2 inch tall.
What grows well in peat soil?
Peatlands and farming – an overview Lowland peatland sites can be excellent for growing cereals, fruit and vegetables because of their fertile soils. For example, a large marshy area of eastern England, known as the Fens, was drained in the 17th century and has since become a major hub for British food production.
Is peat moss a good fertilizer?
Peat moss added to the garden helps to aerate and enrich the soil. It can add body and help to retain valuable nutrients that might otherwise leach out in sandy soil. It helps prevent clay soil from hardening which can prevent adequate water absorption by plants.
Is peat moss a good top dressing for lawns?
Peat moss can hold up to 20 times its dry weight in water, so applying a layer of peat moss a top dressing on your lawn can help it recover because it acts like a sponge. The peat moss absorbs the water, and the grass that is in contact with the wet peat moss layer will absorb some of that moisture as well.
