Alternatives to Peat Moss in the Garden

Posted by Jamie McIntosh Apr 5, 2009

As I stated in a recent article about organic gardening myths, peat moss is not an ideal soil amendment. Peat moss takes centuries to develop, and its harvest from wetland bogs destroys habitat and releases greenhouse gases into the air. This is surprising to many gardeners, who may rely on peat moss to lighten and acidify the soil.

One woman who spearheads the effort to educate others about fragile peat bog ecosystems is Kathy Browne. Through her nonprofit organization, Green!USA, she shares alternatives to peat moss in the garden. Examples include compost, coconut fiber, leaf mold, and pine needles. This is another easy change organic gardeners can make to improve the environment for earth day.