South East Forum For Sustainability

Bulbs are coming up, green shoots are starting to show in the garden despite the continuing cold temperatures. If you’re starting to think about your spring planting. Have a thought for your growing medium. 46% of compost sold in garden centres still contains peat from the UK, Ireland and the Baltic states.  Peat extraction is responsible not only for the destruction of unique habitats but also releases large amounts of CO2.

There are many commercially available alternatives peat and in an aim to reduce the peat content of compost the government is proposing it is phased out. As part of this move they are providing help and advice to gardeners on what to use instead:

Peat compost: The alternatives

 *Peat is not necessary to grow most plants. A Which? survey this year found that alternative composts performed better than peat for growing potatoes and flowers in pots.

 *Alternatives include bark, green compost, wood waste, wood fibre and coir. Defra acknowledges peat is best for some “very specialist uses and plants”, such as carnivorous plants native to peat bogs and some ericaceous plants native to moorlands, but advises gardeners to use peat-free compost for all main garden uses. Further advice at can be found on:  www.direct.gov.uk/buyingcompost