Peat is the horticultural world’s dirty secret – and using it in your gardens destroys the planet. Peat bogs are rare ecosystems, home to a wealth of plants, birds and insects. They also store three times more carbon than a forest.

Despite this, huge amounts are sold as bagged compost. With nearly 95% degraded or gone, restored peatland won’t be seen in our generation - or our children or grandchildren, or even great-grandchildren. It takes a whole year to create just 1mm of peat. That’s 1,000 years before the bogs can start functioning again.

With steps towards a promised 2024 peat ban for amateur gardeners proceeding at snail’s pace, and little progress with horticultural peat, it’s up to gardeners to take the lead and grow peat free. Here’s our top tips:

1. Spend as much as you can. Unfortunately, cheap peat-free compost is often made from green waste, and will give you poor results. Invest in your garden and growing by buying the best you can afford. Garden Organic recommends Melcourt’s SylvaGrow, Dalefoot’s wool composts and Fertile Fibre.
2. Look for the Responsible Sourcing Scheme symbol. This scheme measures bagged compost against seven criteria to assess their environmental credentials. This means you can be sure the peat-free compost you’ve brought has been made ethically with minimal energy, water and pollution and from renewable sources. Find out more.
3. Check your potted plants. Clearer labelling on peat-containing products is desperately needed. Peat can be found in many pre-potted plants, mushrooms, leafy salads, and houseplants. Always check what you’re buying and make sure your garden centre or supplier knows you’d like to buy peat-free products.
4. Water little and often. Because of their high coir and woodchip content, peat-free mixes can dry out more easily. Their coarse texture means they can appear dry on the surface but still damp further down. Check by putting your finger around 1 inch into in the soil. Don’t let them dry out otherwise they can be difficult to water again, as the water runs off the top. If this happens, sit the pot in water to let it draw up the moisture.
5. Feed after four weeks. Most peat-free composts provide fertiliser up to four weeks, but after this you can make your own comfrey liquid feed for hungry crops and container-grown plants. Find out how to make this.
6. Make your own compost mixes. With a bit of planning, you can reduce how much bagged peat free you buy in and experiment with your own recipes. For sowing seeds, mix one-part garden soil (loam) with one-part well-rotted leafmould and sieve out any lumps. Find more compost recipes.
7. Make your voice heard. Sign Garden Organic’s pledge to show the Government you want them to act sooner to ban peat use in gardens and join The Wildlife Trusts' Peat Inspectors campaign.
8. Check out Enrich the Earth. This collaborative campaign has been created by a coalition of expert organisations – including Garden Organic – to help people make more informed and impactful environmental choices. Find your perfect ‘soil mate’ and other useful information via its website.

For more advice on using peat-free compost and its benefits go to Garden Organic's For Peats Sake hub, where you’ll also find a free online peat-free growing course.