• An Easy Guide to Conditioning your Soil with Canadian Peat Moss

    How to Use Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss

    Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss is available throughout North America in bags and compressed bales ranging in size from less than 1 cubic foot to 6 cubic feet. Compressed bales double in volume when opened and loosened. A 1 cubic foot bale covers approximately 50 square feet to a depth of 2 inches.

    Although it is not necessary, pre-moistening Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss prior to use will make it more manageable. Open the bale at the stapled end. Fill with warm water using a hose or bucket to properly penetrate and moisten. Allow to sit for 1 hour or more. If you do not use the entire bale, close it securely to keep the Canadian Peat Moss clean for the next time. When the bag is empty it can be reused for trash.

    Recipes for Successful Plants

    • Container Gardening: Fill with a mixture of 1/3 Sphagnum Peat, 2/3 soil; ensure there are drainage holes at the bottom of the pot.
    • Trees and Shrubs: Prepare a hole twice the size of the root ball. Loosen bottom soil for good drainage. Mix 1 part Sphagnum Peat with 2 parts soil and pack mixture around roots. Soak thoroughly. Mulch around base of tree with a 2 inch layer of Sphagnum Peat and soil mix.
    • New Lawns: Mix a 2 inch layer of Sphagnum Peat into the top 6 inches of soil. Apply fertilizer and seed as directed. Cover with a light dressing of Sphagnum Peat, about 1/4 inch, and water thoroughly. If laying sod, prepare soil as above. Lay sod into place and top dress with Sphagnum Peat, making sure the peat seals the cracks between sod pieces.
    • Existing Lawns: Rake and aerate the lawn then top dress with 1/4 – 1/2 inch layer of Sphagnum Peat or a mixture of Sphagnum Peat and sharp sand or fine soil. Top dress will reduce the amount of watering necessary and during hot weather will prevent the surface from baking.
    • Vegetable and Flower Beds: Vegetables, annuals, and perennials: Spread 2-3 inch layer of Sphagnum Peat and mix thoroughly into the top 6 inches of soil before seeding or setting out transplants. Bulbs: When planting bulbs, prepare the bed by mixing equal parts Sphagnum Peat, soil, and sand. In fall, mulch with a 3 inch layer of Sphagnum Peat and soil mixture to retain moisture and buffer temperature changes.

     

     

    Why is Canadian Peat Moss so Good for Plants?

    Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss is partially decomposed sphagnum moss – a plant whose unique cellular structure consists of large cavities that absorb air and water the way a sponge does. Because the right balance of air and water is essential for root development and plant growth, organic Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss is the best soil conditioner you can put to work in your garden.

    For planting trees, shrubs, flowers, vegetables, lawns, and even indoor plants, odorless and natural Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss is the finest soil conditioner available because it:

    1. Retains Water
      Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss holds up to 20 times its dry weight in water so that plants need less frequent watering
    2. Aerates Soil
      Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss helps loosen and aerate heavy clay soils.
    3. All Natural
      Harvested from bogs 7,000 – 12,000 years old, Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss is an environmentally safe all-natural product.

      Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss also:

      • Adds body to light sandy soils
      • Protects soil from drying and hardening
      • Reduces the potential for erosion
      • Stores fertilizer and natural plant foods that otherwise might leach away
      • Reduces garden drudgery by making weeding easier