Table of Contents
What does peat moss come from?
Virtually all of the peat moss sold in the United States comes from the vast sphagnum moss bogs of Canada. Often mixed with a mineral named perlite, it is highly valued by horticulturists for its ability to retain moisture and oxygen without becoming waterlogged or heavy.
Where does most peat come from?
Northern Europe, particularly Scandinavia and the British Isles, have the most peatlands harvested for fuel use. However, peat bogs can be found from Tierra del Fuego to Indonesia. Finland, Ireland, and Scotland are the biggest consumers of peat as a fuel.
What is peat moss and how is it made?
Peat moss is a soil amendment that is harvested from peat bogs. Many of these bogs are found in wetland areas of Canada. Peat bogs are formed, over the course of very long periods of time, as organic materials partially decompose.
Where does garden peat come from?
Peat is produced by the decomposition of bog plants. Normally plants decompose into carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. Because peat is formed in the watery environment of an oxygen-free bog it decomposes into carbon. That carbon stays in the bog, locked away from the atmosphere.
How is peat harvested?
Traditional peat harvesting involves a farmer or laborer manually cutting thick strips of peat with a large, sharp hoe. (Today, industrial peat harvesting involves huge tractors that scrape peat from the surface of bogs. This scraped peat is then collected into bricks. This is called milled peat.)
Where is peat moss found?
Peat mosses mainly are found in bogs and wetlands in the northern hemisphere, covering about two percent of the land on earth, about one billion acres. About two-thirds of the world’s supply is in Russia, and one quarter in Canada.
What is peat production?
Peat forms when plant material does not fully decay in acidic and anaerobic conditions. It is composed mainly of wetland vegetation: principally bog plants including mosses, sedges, and shrubs. As it accumulates, the peat holds water. This slowly creates wetter conditions that allow the area of wetland to expand.
Where is peat mined?
Where is peat found?
About 60\% of the world’s wetlands are made of peat. Peat deposits are found in many places around the world, including northern Europe and North America. The North American peat deposits are principally found in Canada and the Northern United States.