Peat Free Compost
Did you know that your choice of compost could be contributing to climate change? This is because one of the main elements in most of the potting compost you can buy at the shops is peat!
Peat has been used for years in potting compost. Its been a popular medium for growing for several reasons :-
Its is lightweight and therefore easy to transport and handle.
When fully decomposed it is basically inert - meaning you don’t need to worry about changes in its chemical composition.
Peat has an open structure with the ability to retain water whilst maintaining air content within its pore spaces.
Peat is very good at retaining nutrients and can last for around 6 weeks before a feed needs to be added.
It has a low pH making it suitable for growing ericaceous plants if left untreated. pH levels in general peat composts are often balanced by the addition of calcium carbonate.
“So far so good… Don’t see any problems there.”
And there isn’t any problem with the way peat works in the compost. Peat is a really useful part of the compost and a great growing medium.
The problem comes when you look at the environmental cost of the peat harvesting and production.
Peat is created when plant material subsides into a waterlogged landscape, such as a bog. The plant material, once in the bog, can’t fully decay due to the lack of oxygen in the water. In this state of half decay, the carbon dioxide that would otherwise be released during the natural decaying process, stays locked in the plant. Year after year the plants and the carbon they’ve trapped from the air, die back and over time, create peat. Peat bogs have been repeating this process since the last ice age.
Peat bogs only cover a 3rd of the earths surface but they store nearly twice as much carbon as all the standing forest on the planet today. CO2 and other greenhouse have been steadily growing over recent decades. Upland soils, if well managed, could help counteract the rise in emissions. However this vital carbon sink has been over consumed in the UK and the areas of peat land decrease more and more every year.
Fortunately for the environment there are now a wide range of peat-free compost alternatives. These are normally made up of a mixture of organic materials, like wood chippings, coconut husk and green compost, and inorganic materials, such as sand, grit and perlite. A mix of coarse and fine particles is needed to create a balanced compost containing enough water and air, which are essential for root growth.
Things to remember when buying Peat free compost
Many peat-free composts will recommend a specific accompanying fertiliser. This is not a marketing ploy. It takes many years to create the right compost mix and the recommended fertiliser will be best for the balance of nutrients in that compost.
If the bag doesn’t say “peat-free” then it isn’t. Things like “environmentally friendly” and “organic” regularly trick the unassuming gardener, so be careful.
Peat-free composts tend to be a bit more expensive.
Check the label to see if it’s recommended for a particular plant groups.
Here’s our quick guide to some of the peat free compost on offer
Pros:
Good for transplants, containers and prorogation
Contains slow release nutrients for strong, even growth
Peat-free
Endorsed by RHS
Cons:
Not the cheapest
Review
If you are wanting a real quality compost then a Melcourt compost is for you. It costs a little bit more than some other composts but it is top notch - perfect for your precious plants. This compost uses a blend of fine bark, wood fibre (sourced from managed British forests) and coir. This is an excellent all round compost and I personally haven’t seen any difference between this and peat based multi purpose. The coir still offers the same water retention and aeration of the soil that peat did. All of which isn’t surprising since it is officially endorsed by RHS.
Pros:
Good for transplants, containers and proprogation
Contains slow release nutrients for strong, even growth
Contains certified organic coir
Peat-free
Cons:
Costly
Review
We’ve used this compost and it definitely does the job. The good thing about coir (coconut fiber) is that it behaves almost exactly like peat. It retains water and also keeps the soil aerated. Also this one says “ingredients acceptable to vegetarians and vegans”… I’m not completely sure what that means… Maybe if you’re vegan you can eat it… if you want? I haven’t tried it though so I can’t comment on the taste!
Pros
Water retention
Slow release Nitrogen
Cons
Might need mixing with other mediums
Review
Amazingly this really works. Mixing wool and bracken to make compost has been done since Victorian times. The wool used is the waste from the textile and clothing industry and the bracken, which is a problem weed for farmers, is harvested and put to good use. Win win! When we tried this compost we were amazed find that the texture was exactly like any other compost… I don’t really know what we were expecting… A wooly jumper, maybe the faint sound of bleating… This compost is perfect for propagating and holds water and air exactly like peat. I highly recommend this compost.
Pros:
Retains water
Made up of clay granules
Good price
Good aeration
Can be mixed with coir
Cons:
Only really good for potted plants
Review
This potting compost is made of little clay granules and used for plants in pots. The clay has good water and mineral retention but because they’re granules it keeps the soil aerated and prevents water logging. The main issue I’ve had is fine rooted plants don’t anchor very well in this compost because of the size of the granules. It’s great for growing cactus plants in though. Mixing this with a coir compost makes a really great potting medium.
Pros:
Water retention
Water drainage
Aeration
Coir
Expands to 70l volume
Cons:
Use with other growing mediums
DIY
Review
You can use this as a sole growing medium if, say you’re propagating but I’d suggest mixing it with other mediums if not. Humusziegel is made from coir (coconut fiber) which retains water and also keeps the soil aerated. Also it lasts a lot longer than normal multi purpose compost. You do have to soak it in water (preferably warm) for about 30min before using it. It will expand to it’s full 70l and then it’ll be ready. Personally I found this product a bit of a faff but if you got the time it’s a really good alternative to peat and if you want it delivering its nice and easy for the delivery man!
Pros
Easy to use
Endoresed by RHS
45 L bag
Extra depth for more roots and easier management
Nutrients sufficient for the first 3 – 4 weeks of growth
Review
This formula is perfectly designed for growing straight from the bag. If you grow your own tomatoes every year and you’re looking for a peat-free alternative this is the one for you! Not only great for tomatoes, it’s also perfect for growing peppers, lettuce, herbs, strawberries and the list goes on. This compost is a mixture of fine bark, coir, green compost and balanced organic nutrients. These bags are so easy to use. You can just plant straight into the bag and water it if needed. I really like these bags because it doesn’t matter how big your garden is or how much experience you have at gardening, anyone can use them and get good results. Also, tomatoes you grow yourself are so much tastier than the ones you get in the supermarket!… I don’t think you can say you’ve ever tasted what tomatoes actually supposed to taste like unless you’ve grown your own.
GardenWild is taking part in a #peatfreeapril. This is a social media campaign to encourage gardeners to move towards peat-free compost. There was a “voluntary” target set by the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to phase out peat based product for the general use by 2020 however it’s now 2020 and there doesn’t seem to have been a lot of progress. A group of gardeners have got together to try and raise awareness about this issue under the tag #peatfreeapril.