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Taking centuries to establish, but just moments to be destroyed, there has now been formal recognition that peatlands must be protected, and we can all help, starting in our own gardens, right now.
Peat is a type of soil produced by a gradual build-up of waterlogged partially decomposed plant material, in poorly drained wetland habitats, over the course of an estimated 10,000 years.
Its origin and composition give it a high natural moisture content helping it to retain water easily. When used in composts this helps to extend plant life by preventing plants from drying out, this is especially beneficial for seedlings and young plants, hence the widespread use in the industry.
However, aside from its ability to retain water, peat has few benefits for plant life, with limited nutrient content.
So how easy is it to switch to a peat-free growing scheme?
Always ahead of the curve with ensuring our products are sustainable and responsibly sourced and produced, Rolawn has been championing ‘peat-free’ since we began supplying topsoils, only ever producing 100% peat-free products.
One last but very significant point – always check the small print! Recent consumer research indicates that almost two-thirds of the gardening public still buy peat-based composts. That could be partly down to labelling. Just because a product is labelled ‘Environmentally friendly’ or ‘organic’ doesn’t mean it is necessarily peat-free.
Our ‘Selecting the right topsoil’ guide tells you more about choosing topsoil you can trust.