On this page you can read my views on various horticultural topics.

Peat in Horticulture and the Environment

 The garden industry has seen something of an increase in the level of activity undertaken by the anti-peat lobby. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has sought to persuade the Government to impose a 40p levy on bags of peat and peat based compost sold in the UK.

 I consider there is a need to balance the propaganda on peat extraction. Their is a argument that peat should be eliminated in favour of alternatives. For general mulching and soil conditioning, viable alternatives have been successfully introduced, but for bedding and potting composts as yet no alternatives truly meet the essential criteria of efficacy, safety, reliability and value for money.

 Friends of the Earth argue against the use of peat on three levels.

1. Greenhouse gas emissions released on peat extraction, but the total estimated contribution of UK extraction is only 0.06 per cent of total UK emissions. 

2. The threat to rare ecosystems, on a global scale this must be manifestly untrue. Peatland is not rare nor threatened, the earth is known to generate around 600 million cubic metres per  year but only 200 million cubic metres is extracted each year. In the UK peatland is not threatened, peat producers agree not to seek or to extract from areas with a conservation value.

3. The use of waste materials for compost, in order to reduce landfill requirements,  this is irrelevant as only 2.5 million cubic metres of peat is consumed while over 150 million cubic metres of compostible material is put into landfill. 

  The Peat Producers Association produce a leaflet ' Peat, How production today benefits our environment tomorrow'. Interested persons should contact them at 41 High Street, Glastonbury, Somerset. BA6 9DS.

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Why use Pesticides

 Pesticides are cost effective tools for use in amenity areas, roadways and footpaths. They are required for reasons of safety, efficiency, aesthetic value, public health and to meet legal requirements.

 The manufacture, sale and use of pesticides is heavily regulated in the UK,

1. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, puts an obligation on the employer to provide training and safety equipment, the employee is obliged to use it.

2. The COSHH regulations affect all potential dangerous substances, not just pesticides. These regulations require an assessment of health risk involving the application of pesticides. Exposure to these substances must be prevented or controlled, so far as is reasonably practical.

3. The Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 is legislation to protect the health of human beings, creatures and plants. The act seeks to make information about pesticides available to the public. The law requires that users take all necessary precautions as contained in the Pesticides code of practice. This code of practice is much like the Highway Code and must be followed.

4. Control of Pollution Act 1974 requires a license to be obtained to dispose of un wanted pesticides.

5. The Water Act of 1989 makes it an offence to allow any poisonous, noxious or polluting matter to enter any controlled waters.

6. The Environmental Protection Act 1990 introduces the Duty of Care and control of statutory nuisances noises and smells are also included.  

7. The Groundwater Regulations 1999 controls discharges and disposal of substances where they are not already covered by existing legislation.

 Now with all this legislation the use of pesticides is controlled, they should only usually be used where there is no creatable alternative. 

 Pesticides have been given a bad name in the past because of over use and operators who do no follow the codes of practice. 

 On a small scale I am sure you can manage without using pesticides, but today you have to use efficient and effective methods. If you don't do anything about pests, diseases and weeds, the end result after a period of time  will be a reduction of credible standards.

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Potting Compost, The Facts.

Only about 12 per cent of potting compost sales in the UK are of peat free types. There is general satisfaction with peat based compost so why risk changing?. Trails have been undertaken by many interested parties, the best compost for raising young plants have always contained peat. Some peat free brands I am told are almost as good but many others have been dreadful. The compost industry really needs to put a lot more work into finding a reliable alternative.

 In the old days John Innes  compost (number 1, 2 and 3) was the main compost used, there was also a seed sowing mixture. This compost is made up of Sterilized soil, Peat and Sand with fertilizer and added lime. Compost mixture number 2 contained twice the fertilizer content of number one and mixture number 3 three times the content of number 1.The J.I. seed sowing compost had different amounts of Sterilized soil , Peat and Sand, the types of fertilizer use where also different.

 Why did J.I. compost lose favour, because pure peat compost gave good results, the price was right, the compost was lighter to handle and cleaner to use. I consider the way ahead is to look and trial composts that contain a reduced amount of peat? Developing reliable reduced peat mixtures could well prove easier and more acceptable than perfecting peat free ones.

 I have trailed many composts over the years and at the present time don't consider there is any credible alternative to using peat in compost for growing young plants in containers. I am not prepared to  accept reduce quality, gardening is about growing the best plants you can to give satisfaction, good gardeners are always trying to achieve better results.  

 I do accept that peat extraction should be reduced and stopped on Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). I myself mix sterilized soil with peat  compost for growing container shrubs, not only because this reduces the peat requirement but because it improves the plants stability in the pot. I do hope that we will see reduced peat composts soon I think they  will be the only reliable alternative.

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Friendly house plants

 House plants have always been a popular and stylish addition to homes and offices, but did you realize that plants also remove toxic chemicals? Research has proved that plants are vital to a healthy indoor environment and will help reduce 'sick building syndrome'.

 Indoor pollution is now considered by many experts to be one of the major threats to health. How does the earth produce and sustain clean air? The answer of course is through the living processes of plants. As ever-increasing numbers of the population becomes concerned about the direct correlation between the indoor environment and their health, the 'green revolution'  will continue to spread.

 Symptoms associated with indoor pollution include allergies, asthma, eye, nose and throat irritations, fatigue, headache, nervous-system disorders, respiratory congestion and sinus trouble. In tests these symptoms are experienced by a high proportion of those living and working in particular parts of buildings. While standard analysis can detect no cause, when the building occupants are away from the area for a given time, the symptoms usually diminish, only to recur on re-entry into the building. It is reported that up to 30 per cent of new and remodeled buildings have indoor air quality problems. The three primary sources of poor indoor air quality are

1. hermetically sealed buildings and their synthetic furnishings,

2. reduced ventilation,

3. human bioeffluents,

 Some of the common emissions include formaldehyde, benzene, ammonia, alcohols, acetone, carbon dioxide and many other bioeffluents. Some of the sources of these emissions include humans, adhesives, carpeting, cleaning products, wall coverings, photocopiers, upholstery, paints, printers, cosmetics, varnishes, floor coverings, office correction fluid, nail polish etc.

 We all enjoy the comforts and conveniences of living in this modern age, but we should also take reasonable measures to protect our health and well-being. Use products that give off lower emissions, allow furnishings to off-gas before being installed and include house plants in the design of your office or room. The inclusion of plants will mimic the way that nature cleans the earth's atmosphere.