Showing posts with label greenhouse gas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label greenhouse gas. Show all posts

Thursday, June 10, 2021

Should We Stop Using Peat in Our Gardens? by Nancy Shepard

 

PhotoPete Stuart (Shutterstock)


[Extracted from Washington Post article May 11, 2017 and LifeHacker June 7, 2021.] 

Virtually all of the peat moss sold in the United States comes from the vast sphagnum moss bogs of Canada. Often mixed with a mineral named perlite, it is highly valued by horticulturists for its ability to retain moisture and oxygen without becoming waterlogged or heavy. It is generally sterile and naturally suppresses a fungal disease that can afflict seedlings, making it a natural choice for seed starting. So why should we avoid using it?