Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

peat as a mulch

peteSpeteS Posts: 966
in Plants
I've got a big bag of peat I was given ages ago, but I've never had cause to use but it does need using up. I'm thinking of using it as a good mulch in combination with a couple of bags of GC farmyard manure I have, but what ratio would be best used. I'm slightly worried using too much peat would alter the pH of the soil. Many thanks.
«1

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    It won't have any effect on the pH of your soil unless you're using tons of it.
    Happy mulching :)

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • WaterbutWaterbut Posts: 344
    Mix it in with new bags of compost from GC as they do not contain peat anymore.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Yes, good as a mulch.  But peat has unique properties, you should be able to think of a more needy application.

    BTW, is it moss peat or sedge peat.  Makes a differenve.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    Mix the peat in well with the manure or other compost Pete, because on it’s own, if applied thickly, it forms a water-impenetrable pan when it dries out. The type might make a difference as bédé says. Mine was peat moss.
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • peteSpeteS Posts: 966
    @Pete.8, @arossrob, @bede, @Nollie
    Yes it's Irish moss peat, and I have been mixing it with manure as a mulch. Regarding adding it to peat free compost, what ratio would be best do you think. I've had it for a good few years now (been kept inside) so I don't know whether any of it's properties will have diminished. Many thanks.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I don't think it would matter much @peteS, re the ratio. Whatever feels right in your hand. It would also depend what you want to grow in it. It may be too wet or too dry for certain seeds or plants.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited May 2023
    Make a distinction between "mulch" and "surface dressing".

    Mulch is for moisture conservation and weed suppressing, Surface dressing is for adding fertiliser and improving soil.  There is an overlap.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    If it’s Irish moss peat I would definitely add it to compost for seed sowing.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited May 2023
    Peat in the ground has reached a state where it won't decompose further at any meaningful rate.  This depends on remaining wet and aciidic and absence of air.  If the conditions are like this in the bag(s) you have, it should be as good as when sold.

    For seed sowing, I would blend it with up to 50% coarse horticultural sand (not builders' or seaside sand) or perlite to speed up the drainage.  Perhaps add 25% to a prepared seed compost.  Grabbing a handful of watered compost and squeezing is the best indication.  You will learn by doing.  Perhaps YouTube ????
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    I agree with @Fairygirl, don’t worry too much about ratios just mix it up with something else or if using straight on a bed mix it lightly into the top couple of inches of soil around your plants. Not everyone grows from seed 😊 
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Sign In or Register to comment.