Peat Moss

Peat moss belongs to a family of wild mosses called sphagnum that grow in extreme wetlands, peats and bogs. All these species of the sphagnum are usually referred to as peat moss on the whole and make for an important tool in gardening. But what is peat moss? Peat moss is a mass of decaying remains of these specialized mosses and can also include animal and insect remains along with fungi, bacteria and grass. These are usually found deep in the bogs and peats. It becomes a coveted substance to have in a vegetable garden or even a regular garden with lawns because it is made up of highly rich organic matter that helps the vegetation and promotes growth. In the article that follows, we shall be looking into the advantages and the uses of peat moss. Continue reading for more information on the wonderful world of moss.

Peat Moss Uses

Peat moss has a texture that is a combination of clay and fiber. It has the unique ability to hold water that is 20 times its weight and that is one of the reasons why it makes for a great fertilizer in a garden. Let us look at some of the other advantages that peat moss offers for a garden:

    * Peat moss has the ability to retain water within itself and that is why it is highly beneficial for extreme dry soil conditions. In such areas, it can be added and it will continue to retain and supply water over a longer period of time.
    * It has the unique ability of lowering the pH levels of the soil so plants can thrive better.
    * It acts as an excellent soil conditioner and helps to improve soil conditions.
    * Peat moss helps to save water by reducing the amount of water that needs to be used, because it has the unique ability of locking moisture and releasing it slowly.
    * It promotes healthy roots and can thus be used for providing nourishment for the roots.
    * It helps to loosen heavy soil and thereby provides air to the plant roots.
    * It stores nutrients within itself and thereby provides the plants with nourishment.
    * It helps a compost pile by providing a base that is highly crumbly and nutrient rich so that an easy to use fertilizer can be formed.
    * Using peat moss also becomes very cost effective because it does not decompose as easily as compost does and therefore can be used for longer periods of time without having to replace it over and over again.
    * There are other uses of peat moss as well that include livestock breeding (to keep them dry and to absorb the odors) and in electricity generation (peat moss is crushed and burned and thereby electricity is generated.)

How to Use Peat Moss

There are ways in which peat moss needs to be used for it to be effective. You need to see that the moss is mulched or ground a little so that it can be mixed well. An addition of certain fertilizers to this moss will help to improve the content of nutrients in it. After the peat moss has been prepared for usage, here is how you go about it:

    * For an already existing lawn, you can administer great lawn care. First, aerate the lawns and then put in a top layer of peat moss (1/4-1/2 inch) over the entire surface.
    * If you're planning to plant a new lawn, then put in about 2 inches of peat moss in the first 6 inches of the top soil and make sure that the soil is even and not lumpy.
    * One can also use peat moss for seeding purposes. After the seeds have been spread, use a fertilizer and spray with water and then apply a ¼ - ½ inch of peat moss over the seeds and water lightly.
    * It can also be used for facilitating growth of vegetation in bare patches where there are no plants or lawn. Add 2 inches of peat moss to 6 inches of top soil and grow the seed or plants of your choice. Then fertilize and water and spread another top layer of ¼ - ½ inch of moss. This will facilitate germination.

That is how peat moss is used in gardening and makes for a very, very effective and handy organic matter to have around for great lawn and garden care.