Going Peat-Free

The use of peat-based composts within the horticultural industry is still widespread. About 30% of the nearly 3 million cubic metres of peat used annually in the UK is by the industry, but by far the largest tranche of usage is by amateur growers, while only a fraction is used by local authorities.

The ecological case for reduction of the use of peat is unequivocal. If peat were to be extracted sustainably from the UK it would realise just 10-20 cubic metres per year! In the UK only 1% of original pristine raised bog habitat remains. The bogs support massive biodiversity, have huge carbon storage, water retention, archaeological interest and landscape benefits. However, it is not just the UK's peat bogs that are under threat; 60% of UK peat usage is from Ireland and 8% from Baltic States.

The case is clear and there have been significant steps taken by all users of peat to reduce their reliance on it. Use of peat-free alternatives is up 19% since 2007 and the market in green waste, bark, coir, and wood alternatives (all by-products of other industries) is growing quickly. All the main compost manufacturers are offering peat-free alternatives.

The key element in any transition towards peat-free is going to be how well it compares to natural, organic peat. Trials in the early days left growers with the impression that water retention was difficult, the composts were nutrient bereft, and rooting was inhibited by the dense nature of the alternatives.

Since then research has seen an on-going process of improvement, and the range of alternatives to peat has grown considerably, as has the supporting technology surrounding fertilizers and water retention.

Trials have been crucial, and from these there has come a much better understanding of the growing mediums and a better range of options available to the consumer, be they industry or amateur. However, while there has been growth in the peat-free market there has also been growth in the market generally, of about 30% - so the perceived need for peat is still there.

So what are the targets and how likely are we to get there? DEFRA currently has a consultation document out with the industry to gather feedback, their stated aims are;

• For soil improvers to be peat-free by 2013
• For local authorities and their procurement to be peat-free by 2015
• For bagged products to be peat-free by 2020.
• For the professional market to be peat-free by 2030
• On current trends the amateur market would be peat-free by 2072 and the professional market by 2100!

There was an original target of 90% peat reduction in the industry by 2010, but this target was not reached as it did not differentiate between the different areas of peat usage, so the focus was not clear. This has now changed. The easy pickings are seen to be the soil improvers – and this is a good call. Peat is completely unnecessary in this role, and green waste or bark are more than adequate to help get plants established.

As for the professional sector; DEFRA wants the transition to be Industry led and would ‘support’ it in this role, mainly through increased awareness. There are no financial incentives or penalties being talked of at this stage. The stumbling block for many in the industry is going to be – as with so many things – cost. In an environment where costs are seen to be the be-all-and-end-all, this could prove problematic. For some nurseries it will be a make or break cost but for the vast majority, provided the compost does what is needed, it will come down to their environmental commitment.

At Nicholsons, like many nurseries that have had peat as their staple for so many years, we are currently in a transition period. We unsuccessfully trialled peat-free several years ago, when the first alternatives were introduced, but we are now re-trialling using some of the latest products and technologies. We have changed our mix to include more loam, potting bark and wood fibre and will continue to increase these replacements while carefully monitoring the quality of the plants we grow. We are acutely aware that our customers want to buy well-rooted, well-fed healthy plants, and if we can achieve this at minimal extra cost but peat-free, then there is no questioning our commitment.

Members of the public with gardens should consider it fair to ask their garden centre to supply peat-free alternatives, if they do not already do so. Let them know if you are happy with the performance of the products you try, as results can vary. You will need to become used to dealing with a media that has different properties to peat. Our bagged compost range is supplied through a company called Vital Earth, which is a market leader in peat-free conditioners and growing media.

The long and the short of it is that the successful transition from peat to peat-free comes down to commitment on all sides. Nurseries, growers and garden centres - even the celebrity gardeners - , need to work on a major public relations exercise aimed at getting people on board. We all need to recognise the problem and accept the need for a solution. If we don't, then this will become another case of something that "costs the earth", which is an expensive price to pay.

Further information
Please Contact us for further information. You may also find these sites and web pages of interest:

From the Government's Act on CO2 website, 2010
DEFRA Consultation Documents, December 2010

News item from the Daily Mail, February 2010
News item from the Daily Telegraph, March 2010
Feature in The Times , April 2010
Feature in the Ecologist , May 2010