Peat moss is composed of dead fibrous material. The peat moss is a decomposition of the mosses in peat bogs.
This is different from the leaf mold, a pile of leaves left to break down for later use.
Leaf mold Vs. Peat Moss – which wins?
The leaf moss is the most common among gardeners. Some reasons have been given to explain why the leaf mold is better than peat moss.
- Effect on the Environment
- Ease of leaf mold availability
- Ease of making the leaf mold
- High acidity levels in peat moss
Effect on the Environment
Experts have considered leaf mold as more environmentally friendly than peat moss. There are several environmental concerns about using peat moss in gardens.
The harvesting of peat moss releases carbon into the atmosphere. This is a concern because of the effects of global warming.
Harvesting the peat moss also destroys the habitat. The digging changes and destroys the environment. This is unlike the leaf mold. It only has to do with clearing a pile. This means the leaf mold does not tamper with the ecosystem, as with the peat moss.
Some gardeners only find value in using peat moss for potted plants. This is because they can control the effects on the environment. Experts also advise that peat moss is best for starting seeds.
The best alternative for growing them in the garden is the leaf mold. That is why the leaf mold continues to be a favorite among gardeners.
Ease of making the leaf mold
It is very easy to make the leaf mold. This is different from peat moss. The peat moss can take a millennium to form. It is considered as taking a prolonged process. That is why it cannot work well for gardeners. The leaf mold works as a perfect alternative.
There is also an argument that specific conditions only favor peat moss. That is why it is only available in particular regions of the country. The peat moss requires boggy environments.
The breakdown cannot happen anywhere, like the case with leaf molds. It needs an anaerobic setting, which is challenging to provide.
The leaf mold is also decomposed in the presence of air. This adds more value to its content. The peat moss decomposed without air. It is, therefore, not of great importance for plants in a garden. It may require adding more elements to enrich the soil.
Ease of leaf mold availability
Leaf mold can easily be available. It only takes a short period to pile the leaves. The decomposition also takes a shorter period. The leaf mold can also be sourced naturally with minimal effort.
This is unlike peat moss. It is not even available in some regions. It has to be sourced from specific locations.
The peat moss has to be mined. This is a process that can also take longer. The quantity available after mining may also be small. It cannot serve the demand for soil-enriching elements for gardens nationwide.
It is also not under the control of the gardener. This makes it not favorable compared to the leaf mold.
The peat moss is mostly sold to the gardeners. It means that the gardeners have to incur an extra cost. This is different from the leaf mold. The gardener has the freedom to make their own. They have to collect leaves from the backyard and the neighborhood.
High acidity levels in peat moss
Peat moss has high levels of acidity. That is why there are better options for many plants. Gardeners rarely have plants that enjoy high acidic content in the soil. Plants such as blueberries and camellias are rare.
Acidity in peat moss can also kill other essential nutrients in the soil. It, therefore, goes against the purpose of soil amendment. The damage can take a long because peat moss does not decompose quicker.
The effects of the leaf mold can easily be overturned. The introduction of new compost can change the soil structure and composition.
The leaf mold serves better than the peat moss for common garden plants. This includes the vegetables that are popular with gardeners.
The leaf mold is better because it provides essential nutrients for alkaline soil. This is why leaf mold is the most ideal for gardeners.
In summary, there are similarities and differences between peat moss and leaf mold. One significant similarity is their ability to enrich the soil with nutrients. They do so at varying degrees but work well as additives for soil amendment.
Leaf mold or peat moss?
The difference is that they add different nutrients to the soil. Experts have noted that the leaf mold is better in nutrition than the peat moss.
The preference for leaf mold is the short time required to make it. The peat moss is undesirable because it takes the longest time and is thus not adequate to rely on.
