Peat Humus in place of peat moss

Krazzzzzyhorse 5/26/2016, 9:19 pm

Hello everyone I am new to gardening and new to this site. I am preparing to make my first raised bed garden and wanted to use the Mels mix.
Can peat humus be used in place of peat moss?
I also hear spaghum peat moss is a better choice but all I seem to be able to find is peat humus.

**Scorpio Rising** 5/26/2016, 9:44 pm

Hey, Krazyhorse! I have never heard of peat humus, but these people have! Welcome!

http://garden.org/nga/searchqa/answer/20347/

What types of compost do you have? Honestly it is all in the compost!

**sanderson** 5/26/2016, 10:15 pm

KrazyHorse, Welcome to the Forum from California! $glad you\'re here$ Ditto to what Scorpio stated, the mixed compost is the most important part. Is peat humus more expensive than bagged compressed peat moss. Just remember to fluff the peat before measuring. It almost doubles in size.

Krazzzzzyhorse 5/27/2016, 9:04 am

A blend of three composts - Chicken Manure Compost, Mushroom Compost, wood compost, with Rhizogen beneficial bacteria added. I found it at a local landscaper for 45.00 a cubic yard. Peat Humus from what I have read is composted Peat Moss which makes me a little doubtful that it would be a good idea to use.

**Turan** 5/27/2016, 11:40 am

That composted wood is nutrient wise basically peat moss or peat humus. Those are all more a matrix to hold the compost/water. Your only nutrient rich compost appears to be the chicken. My guess is to use that mix without adding any peat to it. I fear you are going to have nutrient problems as it stands already. If possible find some of that lobster blend compost to top dress with.

Peat Humus in place of peat moss 3170584802

Peat Humus in place of peat moss 3170584802

Krazzzzzyhorse 5/27/2016, 4:07 pm

Turan What are your thoughts on mushroom compost? I can get that for 48 dollars a yard. I also have 4 bags of composted cow manure which I planned to mix in.

**sanderson** 5/27/2016, 4:21 pm

I'm not Turan, but compost cow manure sounds great. No experience with mushroom compost but some folks on the Forum use it.

**Turan** 5/27/2016, 6:35 pm

I have seen mushroom compost used as the only ingredient in a raised bed and it did a fantastic job. So in that case it was being all parts of MM.
If you look up lab analysis of mushroom compost you will find that it tests as reasonably nutrient rich but not super high.
http://www.teagasc.ie/publications/2013/2842/6355_SMC_NutrientContentNPK.pdf

It is known to be somewhat high in salts, or can be which is a good reason to mix it.

Remember that what it is well aged horse/ straw/ hay compost mixed with some peat and lime. The mushrooms have not used up all the nutrients but you can not think of it as a high nutrient compost in your mix. You would want to cut your peat a bit in the MM.

MrBooker 6/20/2016, 8:13 am

sanderson wrote:I'm not Turan, but compost cow manure sounds great. No experience with mushroom compost but some folks on the Forum use it.

I use "Black Kow" composted cow manure. I went to their website and they say they don't use anything in their compost except what the cows give them. I bought 10 bags at Home depot for just over $5.00 each and I use it to top dress. They plants love it...

Ginger Blue 6/20/2016, 10:38 am

Welcome KrazyHorse! happy hi

I can't answer your question, but I'm lovin' the thread. Don't mean to hijack your post, I just have a couple of questions for MrBooker, based on his reply to you.

MrBooker wrote:MrBooker
I use "Black Kow" composted cow manure. I went to their website and they say they don't use anything in their compost except what the cows give them. I bought 10 bags at Home depot for just over $5.00 each and I use it to top dress. They plants love it...

MrBooker, I understand the concept of top dressing, but don't have experience with it. My questions are:

Is top dressing suitable for recently transplanted seedlings, or only advisable for mature plants?

How do you mix or apply the manure so that it doesn't burn the stems and lower leaves of the plants, and is the application different for shallow roots?

Save

MrBooker 6/20/2016, 6:59 pm

Ginger Blue wrote:Welcome KrazyHorse!

I can't answer your question, but I'm lovin' the thread. Don't mean to hijack your post, I just have a couple of questions for MrBooker, based on his reply to you.

MrBooker wrote:MrBooker
I use "Black Kow" composted cow manure. I went to their website and they say they don't use anything in their compost except what the cows give them. I bought 10 bags at Home depot for just over $5.00 each and I use it to top dress. They plants love it...

MrBooker, I understand the concept of top dressing, but don't have experience with it. My questions are:

Is top dressing suitable for recently transplanted seedlings, or only advisable for mature plants?

How do you mix or apply the manure so that it doesn't burn the stems and lower leaves of the plants, and is the application different for shallow roots?

Save

Sorry for the delay. I just started top dressing about a week ago with the composted cow manure. Results so far are encouraging.
I may be guessing but I dont think small amounts would harm new seedlings.
I just add the composted manure to the top of the mulch and water it in.

**sanderson** 6/20/2016, 8:02 pm

So, you are using Black Kow on top of the mulch? What do you use for the mulch? Just trying to clarify.

MrBooker 6/20/2016, 8:12 pm

sanderson wrote:So, you are using Black Kow on top of the mulch? What do you use for the mulch? Just trying to clarify.

I'm using unfinished compost for mulch.

**sanderson** 6/20/2016, 8:45 pm

Gotcha. Thanks

**camprn** 6/20/2016, 9:31 pm

MrBooker wrote:
sanderson wrote:So, you are using Black Kow on top of the mulch? What do you use for the mulch? Just trying to clarify.

I'm using unfinished compost for mulch.

I do the same.

MrBooker 6/21/2016, 6:19 am

I just remembered...... I planted two White egg palnt and two Mexican sun flowers (seedlings) in the MM and with the Black Kow and their doing great. I'll post pics when I get home.

**jimmy cee** 6/21/2016, 6:03 pm

Lots of answers to questions you haven't even thought of yet are in these books. Peat Humus in place of peat moss 5_book10

**Scorpio Rising** 6/21/2016, 9:00 pm

Great thread...everyone has questions in this area. So specific to your mix, climate, etc. I am really learning a lot. My MM is not the textbook requisite. I am rural. So I have actual cow poo, etc. not composted. Worried about burning, because I have had that happen. thinking

learning!

MrBooker 6/22/2016, 7:06 am

Krazzzzzyhorse wrote:A blend of three composts - Chicken Manure Compost, Mushroom Compost, wood compost, with Rhizogen beneficial bacteria added. I found it at a local landscaper for 45.00 a cubic yard. Peat Humus from what I have read is composted Peat Moss which makes me a little doubtful that it would be a good idea to use.

I bought about a pallet of this "American Countryside compost and peat humus" and it seems to work well for me.
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