The forest is a real treasure trove of useful things that can be used during gardening work on a summer cottage.
One of these useful and free products is sphagnum peat moss.
When and how to collect moss
It is better to go for preparations on a dry autumn day - at this time there is not so much moisture in the vegetation, which means it weighs less.
If the sphagnum is very wet, squeeze it out right at the place of collection. When you bring the moss home, pour hot water over it to kill any insects on it. After that, the moss must be dried.
How to store sphagnum
For storing peat moss, hermetically sealed bags are suitable - in such packaging it must be placed in the refrigerator or freezer.
What is peat moss used for?
This is an excellent mulching material that is suitable for any plantings. Moss effectively retains moisture and prevents the soil from drying out.
Sphagnum is also added to planting holes for crops that like acidic soil (hydrangeas, azaleas, etc.). Thanks to this component, the soil becomes light and loose, while maintaining high humidity.
Green peat moss can also be used as a substrate for rooting cuttings or leaves - they will not rot in it. You can safely put live or dried moss in pots with indoor plants - here it will take on the role of drainage.
Moss is often used to store root vegetables. You can also store dahlia rhizomes in it.
An aqueous solution is prepared from sphagnum, which is then sprayed on crops - it is believed that it can protect them from various diseases and pests.
Finally, you have the opportunity to try to germinate seeds of various crops using moss.
