Where Can I Buy Bulk Peat Moss?

Hip_Shot_Hanna · #1 10/13/06, 10:02 PM

I'm in Central Texas, and I'd like to find a relatively inexpensive source for peat moss. As in quite a bit to use for my poultry bedding and adding to my garden.

Can anyone help me and give me some idea as to prices?

Thanks!
HSH

fin29 · #2 10/14/06, 04:51 AM

Curious--have you used peat for bedding before? I experimented with it with my Narragansetts this year, and I was stunned at the dust--within a few hours of putting it down, EVERYTHING was covered with it--I mean like 1/4" of the stuff on the brooder lamps, a film floating in the waterers, and it was all over the birds. I quickly switched back to shavings (so much for the experiment), but I wonder if I did something wrong, since I've read positive things about it online.

dixiedoodle · #3 10/14/06, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hip_Shot_Hanna

I'm in Central Texas, and I'd like to find a relatively inexpensive source for peat moss. As in quite a bit to use for my poultry bedding and adding to my garden.

Can anyone help me and give me some idea as to prices?

Thanks!
HSH

Use to be some guy use to come down and get it. There are boo-coodlings down here. He use to gather it in sacks. Said they used it in flowers. He said he sold it by the foot,what ever that was. Haven,t seen him for years. Here it is every where.

**Cabin Fever** · #4 10/14/06, 08:34 AM

Around here, garden centers and nurseries sell compressed peat moss by the 8 cubic foot package (about the size of a hay bale). You might lick out and find a "year-end" sale on the stuff.

Hip_Shot_Hanna · #5 10/14/06, 08:37 AM

Thanks! I'll check that out.

ET1 SS · #6 10/14/06, 09:07 PM

I have seen it compressed into bricks. I have seen it baled as a 8 cubic foot package, and I have seen it loose and flaky.

The last bale that I bought was not flaky at all, but rather dusty. Ick.

When I have gotten it compressed into brick form, it would break apart and it would be kind of spongy.

The flaky kind is very spongy, we like it the best.

I can get it locally, and when I do it is flaky and spongy. but to get at it, I have to canoe a bit and then wade a bit, so I don't get it very often.

We hope to have a bunch growing on our property soon, so it will be much closer.

Shadow · #7 10/14/06, 09:54 PM

Peat moss is really bad to spontaneously combust. The fire dept in Huntsville Al used to have several calls a year where people reported that their gardens were on fire. This happens when it goes through a heat after it is wet and begins to dry out. I would never use it around live stock or even chickens where their water could get it wet and then go through a heat when drying out.

moonwolf · #8 10/14/06, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadow

Peat moss is really bad to spontaneously combust. The fire dept in Huntsville Al used to have several calls a year where people reported that their gardens were on fire. This happens when it goes through a heat after it is wet and begins to dry out. I would never use it around live stock or even chickens where their water could get it wet and then go through a heat when drying out.

I know peat is flamable under certain conditions. Once I used those trays made of peat and decided to try and sterilizing them by microwaving them for a few minutes. I then put them outside to cool and they erupted into flame, and you could see the cherry red hot which a breeze got it started on fire.
Never did that again.

DON'T MICROWAVE PEAT or PEAT POTS for any reason.IMHO