Peat Moss: What It Is, How It’s Used, and Why Gardeners in the UK Are Moving Away

When you hear peat moss, a partially decomposed plant material harvested from peat bogs, often used to improve soil texture and water retention. Also known as sphagnum peat, it’s been a go-to for gardeners for decades because it holds moisture like a sponge and loosens heavy clay soil. But here’s the catch: every bag you buy comes from a wetland that took thousands of years to form—and once it’s gone, it’s gone for good.

Peat moss is great for soil amendment, a material added to improve soil structure, drainage, or nutrient content. It’s why you’ll find it in potting mixes, seed trays, and lawn top-dressings. But it doesn’t add nutrients. It doesn’t feed plants. It just holds water and air. That’s why it pairs so often with organic gardening, a method of growing plants without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, relying instead on natural soil health and compost. People use it to make compost last longer, to help seedlings root, or to soften hard soil. But if you’re serious about sustainable gardening, a practice that protects ecosystems, reduces waste, and avoids harmful extraction, then peat moss is a problem. The UK has lost over 90% of its lowland peat bogs since the 1900s. Harvesting it releases stored carbon, speeds up climate change, and destroys habitats for rare birds, insects, and plants.

That’s why the posts below don’t just talk about peat moss—they show you what’s next. You’ll find guides on how to fix hard soil using compost and gypsum instead. You’ll see how coffee grounds and Aldi compost can do the same job without the environmental toll. You’ll learn how to build healthy soil from scratch using organic methods that don’t rely on digging up ancient wetlands. This isn’t about guilt. It’s about smarter choices. If you’ve ever used peat moss and wondered if there’s a better way, you’re in the right place. The solutions are here—and they’re cheaper, greener, and just as effective.