Choosing peat-free soils and fertilisers :Cross Stitch – Environment and greener living

Peat has only been widely used in gardens from the 1950s, but its use has increased since. This has led to the destruction of many natural habitats. Fortunately, there are alternatives to peat which work just as well or even better.

Choosing alternatives to peat when you buy soils and fertilisers is one of the most important things you can do to make your garden greener. Soils and fertilisers are also known as ‘growing media’.

Peat-free products are widely available at high street stores and garden centres. Check that the bag says ‘peat-free’ or ask an assistant if it’s not clear.

There are alternative options for the various uses of peat in the garden.

If you’re looking for mulch (material placed on top of soil to keep down weeds and conserve moisture) consider bark or leaf mould based materials. These work much better than peat, which breaks down too easily.

When you want to grow plants and seedlings, look for products that contain:

• bark
• wood fibre
• coir (coconut fibre)
• spent mushroom compost (this is compost previously used by mushroom growers)

These alternatives can work as well as peat, provided you follow the feeding and watering instructions.

Peat bogs provide unique wildlife habitats and are valuable stores of carbon; globally, peat bogs hold more carbon than the world’s forests. When peat is extracted, carbon is released into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.

Large areas of these important habitats have been damaged in the UK and abroad by the commercial use of peat. Although some UK peatlands are now protected, many in Europe are not, and this is where most of the UK’s garden peat comes from.