So, I have two big bags of peat that are about a year and a half old. Due to several major changes in life, they weren’t able to be used when new, and have been hanging out under a tarp. As you can see, they have some holes in them, and have exposed to the elements ( even under the tarp ), including the high humidity of the U.S. gulf coast. If used, they’d be mixed with compost, perlite/vermiculite, and put in 10 gallon grow bags for peppers and tomatoes this coming spring ( about 3 months from now ). Is this a bad idea to use old, exposed to the elements, peat? Any feedback would be appreciated.
by jp7755qod
19 Comments
I’d use it.
Soil does not have an expiration date. You can use it in your garden or mix it with compost. Also good stuff in your composter if you have one.
Use it!
Use it
Why toss it? What could be wrong with it, it’s dirt
peat is already thousands of years old!
I read the title as “old pet” as I was clicking through to another post from the front page and had to quickly backspace to what I was expecting to be a much more impassioned and entertaining debate.
Thanks for all of your replies! I was worried that it might be a breeding ground for plant killing fungus or bacteria ( or another type of problem ), and didn’t want to make a “rookie mistake” that other gardeners would shake their heads at.
it’s peat moss for those of you that keep calling it dirt. I wouldn’t use it for seed starter because it’s probably not sterile any longer but you could spread it on your lawn, mix in a compost pile or make potting soil mix with compost, sand and vermiculite.
I mean the peat moss was exposed to the elements before it was confined to that bag…
It’d be rather sad to chuck away peat moss considering how destructive to the environment to extract
Why would you throw it out? Peat doesn’t have nutrients that will be used or degrade or wash away.
First and foremost, Mel’s
Mix from square foot gardening is a great
soil no matter where you’re located! If you don’t want it I’ll be happy to take it off your hands..and I don’t even know where you live ?!?!. I purchased 10 bales this size
two years ago when Home Depot was changing suppliers, the 4yd bales were $4.99 each !! I’ve still got 5 bales left and the peat moss is in fine shape. I will say, if you’re not ready to use it right now, I’d cover it with a tarp or bring it inside your garage or garden shed. It’s get’s difficult to work with once the peat gets wet, that’s what happens when something holds 20 times its weight in water. In the last 5-6 years there’s been a lot of talk about the sustainability of peat moss and the impact on the environment, I have no doubt there’s some truth to this; but using Coco Coir as an alternative is far more expensive and the amount of water used to process the Coir has it’s downside as well. No matter which product you choose, I always tell folks, “it’s your garden which makes it your rules.” You have to do what you feel is right and what works in your garden, there are no two gardens alike.
Use it then never buy peat moss again it’s so horrifically bad for the environment, it should be left in the ground in its natural reserves.
Oh don’t throw it out! It’s not like it expires or anything. And chickens LOVE that stuff.
Make more dirt! Old dirt with some new stuff makes more dirt. Nothing wrong with making dirt eventually the worms will find it and make it better dirt.
That stuff is probably chock full of vegetable cooties. Send ’em to me. I will dispose of them for you.
Use it! If anything it’s just broken down more which is a good thing
Only difference between old peat and old Pete is one has an expiration