Many landscapers still use peat for some of these applications, forgoing the benefits of compost. While compost and peat both will improve soil tilth and moisture holding capacity, there are many benefits to using compost instead of peat:
- Compost is cheaper
- Compost provides beneficial microorganisms to the soil-food web.
- Compost provides nutrients to the soil while peat does not.
- Compost improves soil CEC while peat does not.
Compost is locally produced, and a more renewable, environmentally friendly option