A Substitute for Peat?

Peat has been used by gardeners as one of the finest soil amendments for ericaceous plants, but peat is collected from wetlands, which harbour many rare and endangered species. Peat bogs can take centuries to regenerate. "In the past half century, 94 per cent of Britain's lowland peat bogs have been lost," (Don). Garden writer and BBC personality, Monty Don, has found an alternative to peat, growing wild on his farm. Bracken fern, Pteridium aquilinum, seems to be an excellent addition to compost for acid-loving plants. Trimming off the top of the plant for mulch and compost can also help bring the competitive weed under control without using chemical herbicides.

Links:

• The Poor Sod from the Observer Magazine of the Guardian Unlimited


• Peat from Wikipedia


• Pteridium aquilinum - Bracken Fern by Earl J. S. Rook

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 11:43 AM on November 2, 2005