Sphagnum peat moss refers to the partially decomposed remains of sphagnum moss. This material is collected at the dense, bottom layers of bogs, where decomposing material compresses within a highly acidic solution. Despite its less than glamorous origins, sphagnum peat moss has helpful uses in the garden. But the use of peat moss is not without controversy.
Perhaps the most common use for sphagnum peat moss is as a soil amendment. The material helps loosen hard, compacted soils while improving drainage around plant roots. The material also helps improve aeration around plants by breaking up clays and other hard minerals in the ground. Sphagnum peat moss also adds body to sandy soils, making it an excellent way to balance out almost any type of soil.
One way to save water in your garden is by adding sphagnum peat moss to the soil. That's because the moss absorbs water at a higher rate than dirt, and retains water longer so that roots can access it for longer periods of time. Peat moss also reduces the amount of runoff, or water that carries away important nutrients that would otherwise be used by root systems. Peat moss will instead hold these nutrients near the source, and make them available to plants over time.
Some environmentalists and conservationists argue that the harvesting of peat moss for commercial purposes does more harm than good. According to "Natural Life Magazine," some scientists believe that peat bogs, where the material is produced, are fragile ecosystems that should be protected instead of harvested. There are also concerns that mosses release carbon dioxide that would otherwise be trapped in the bogs, and that the use of peat moss may contribute to global warming.
Sphagnum peat moss is generally most available at the beginning of the gardening season, usually early spring in most places. Peat moss is carried by most home improvement stores, as well as by specialty gardening shops and farm supply stores. Peat moss is available in several forms, including finely ground in canisters and bags filled with loose, whole sections of moss. A compressed pack of about three cubic feet of peat moss costs about $11 as of August 2012, depending on the retailer.
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