Geography

• Sphagnum moss is a common wetland plant found in countries around the world. According to RuralVermont.com, sphagnum moss is found in abundance in Ireland, Sweden, Finland, the nations of the former Soviet Union and much of Europe. In the United States, sphagnum moss is grown commercially in Michigan and other Midwest states. Most commercial-grade sphagnum peat moss sold in the United States comes from Canada.
  
  

Function

• According to the Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association, adding organic matter to garden soil may help promote the growth of healthy plants. Sphagnum peat moss serves to improve the body of sandy soil and loosen the texture of clay soil. Sphagnum peat moss helps to aerate the plants' roots while providing a consistent source of moisture.
  
  

Features

• Peat moss is made of partially decomposed sphagnum moss. It does not contain any nutrients that are usable by garden plants. Sphagnum peat moss has the ability to adsorb nutrients that are either already present or are added to the soil. Sphagnum peat moss releases these nutrients gradually when the plants need them.
  
  

Size

• Sphagnum moss grows in bogs. According to the Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association, there are 270 million acres of peat bogs in Canada alone, of which approximately 6,000 acres are actively being harvested. According to RuralVermont.com, peatlands cover approximately 33 percent of Finland and nearly 17 percent of Sweden and Ireland.
  
  

Considerations

• In many European countries peat moss has been burned as a source of fuel for heating and cooking in much the same fashion as coal. According to BergerPeatMoss.com, sphagnum moss adds peat layers at a rate of approximately 1 to 2 mm per year. The Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association notes that peat moss in Canada is accumulating 70 times faster than it is being harvested.