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For Peat sake...
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Posted by
ladon 10 CA (
My Page) on
Mon, Mar 14, 11 at 18:25
...Sorry, that was really silly. But I have a question about peat moss. I had a neighbor give me a bunch of peat moss. My soil is already pretty loamy, as I amend it each year. I grow primarily heirloom tomatoes, and I'm wondering if there is anything beneficial or potentially harmful in adding more peat to the soil. I add compost every year...What about adding peat? How much is too much? What about adding it to my compost pile? What would you do with a bunch of peat?
Thanks,
Don |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: For Peat sake...
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- Posted by jolj 7b/8a-S.C.,USA (My Page) on
Mon, Mar 14, 11 at 19:09
You will have more humus then you have now.
I do not think peat needs anymore composting.
It will make a good sub mulch on top of the bed & under leaves or compost.
Peat may lower the pH a little, but not enough to worry about. unless you have a problem with low pH now.
I say, ENJOY! |
RE: For Peat sake...
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| Peat won't compost down much more than it already is, so the compost pile is out. I'd need to know what a "bunch" of peat is and what adding "more" peat to the soil means before suggesting specifics. You could use "some" for mixing with potting mixes. tj |
RE: For Peat sake...
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- Posted by shebear z8 NCentralTex (My Page) on
Mon, Mar 14, 11 at 22:41
| Instead of putting the peat in already nice soil, use it to make your own potting soil. Mix it with compost, manure and a bit of lime. |
RE: For Peat sake...
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| My understanding is that peat moss is Satan. People have burst into flames just walking past it in the garden center. It should be avoided at all costs unless you want to burn for all eternity. Now some of the expected comments will seem calm and measured by contrast. |
RE: For Peat sake...
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| Peat moss has no nutrients, so it will not add anything to your soil except maybe some ability to help that soil retain moisture or distribute moisture a bit better. However, if your soil is already well endowed with organic matter and is evenly moist and well drained now putting that peat moss in will do nothing. Since it was free and you have it you could 1) put it inot your soil, knowing it will do little to nothing, 2) use it for potted plants, or #) compost it, again knowing it will do little to nothing except add some raw Carbon to the compost. |
RE: For Peat sake...
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| Your soil obviously doesn't need that wonderful peat moss, so I would use it in a potting mix. I make a mix of 50:50 spahgnum peat and compost with enough perlite to make it look professional. This I used to pot up seedlings including tomatoes. |
RE: For Peat sake...
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| What you don't want to do is use it as a mulch. It becomes crusty and water repelling. bpgreen, I can't believe that you were the first one this time. |
RE: For Peat sake...
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| You can use it to amend the soil for acid-loving plants. Most of SoCal zone 10 has somewhat alkaline soil, so growing things like blueberries, Japanese maples, rhodies and azaleas, hardy gardenias and blue fowering hydrangeas is often difficult. Amending a planting area with a decent quantity of peat would allow you to grow these types of plants successfully. |
RE: For Peat sake...
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| I get spaghnum peat moss from a local bog. I love the stuff for all purposes. |
RE: For Peat sake...
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- Posted by jolj 7b/8a-S.C.,USA (My Page) on
Tue, Mar 15, 11 at 18:53
bpgreen, you had me going for a second!
annpat, by mulch you mean laying on top of the garden.
It is okay for a child of Satan to mix it in finished compost or mix with garden soil, right? |
RE: For Peat sake...
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| Yes, jolj. Mulch is always used on top of soil. If it isn't on top, it isn't mulch; it's a soil amendment. |
RE: For Peat sake...
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| Bpgreen, maybe Satan's on to something there. Peat moss= eternal flame= must be sustainable. |
RE: For Peat sake...
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| Sure'n peat moss is every irishman's friend and like the ole Irish for imbibing, the more the merrier on this day after THE day. |
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