3.8 cu/ft Peat Moss bales

Anyone else having problems getting Peat Moss?  I know we were being warned earlier of Canadian bogs being protected or some such, but now I can't find a bale.  Where are you getting yours from?

We are not currently expressing any shortage of it here in SW Ohio. Lowe's has 3 cu ft compressed bales of peat for $19.98; Menards has 2.2 cu ft compressed bales of peat for $10.67; Ace Hardware has 2.2 cu ft compressed bales of peat for $18.99; and Tractor Supply has 2.2 cu ft compressed bales of peat for $12.99.  There may be others locally with it, but those are the only ones I checked on.

OhioGardener wrote:We are not currently expressing any shortage of it here in SW Ohio. Lowe's has 3 cu ft compressed bales of peat for $19.98; Menards has 2.2 cu ft compressed bales of peat for $10.67; Ace Hardware has 2.2 cu ft compressed bales of peat for $18.99; and Tractor Supply has 2.2 cu ft compressed bales of peat for $12.99.  There may be others locally with it, but those are the only ones I checked on.

Interesting.  For us:  None at ACE, none at True Value, none at local hardware/garden center, none at SPARR's farm Supply, none at Tractor Supply, found 2 bales at a local feed store (McFarland's) $34.00 for a 3.8 cu/ft bale.

Are any of these places near you? https://hub.biz/Inverness-FL/Mulch-Peat-Moss-Products

sanderson wrote:Are any of these places near you? https://hub.biz/Inverness-FL/Mulch-Peat-Moss-Products

Wow!  If true that could be interesting.  Ocala is not "far", so although I infrequently make the jaunt it isn't out of reason - but Wildwood and Hernando are both easy visits.  Southern Landscape Supply I never heard of (Wildwood), but I know where Sand Land is, just never thought about them for Peat Moss.  First opportunity I get I'll check both of those out and report back.  Of course I'm content presently with my $34 bale (although not happy about that price).  Thank You!

Lowe's has plenty here.  Rural King used to have it a lot cheaper. I see they only have 2 online for shipping today.  Didn't check elsewhere.

Soose wrote:Lowe's has plenty here.  Rural King used to have it a lot cheaper. I see they only have 2 online for shipping today.  Didn't check elsewhere.

  Our Lowe's and Walmart both show the product, but I would have to go there to verify it was in stock (I used to be able to check both by phone but Lowe's says they do when they don't and Walmart's phone system has changed and won't get me to that department).  The reason I didn't make the trip out there to see was because they were showing smaller bales and bags - not my 3.8; and the pricing was not attractive.  Thanks for the info.

Frost? wrote:

sanderson wrote:Are any of these places near you? https://hub.biz/Inverness-FL/Mulch-Peat-Moss-Products

Wow!  If true that could be interesting.  . . . Of course I'm content presently with my $34 bale (although not happy about that price).  Thank You!

Holy cow! $34 is excessive.  Check the ingredients to see if they added other unnecessary ingredients.  I saw one Brand of PM advertised online this summer and was surprised any processer would do that.

Compressed bales of solely peat moss should be in the 2-4 cu ft size and cost in the $10-20 range.

And somewhere around $13 is what I last paid.  Out of curiosity, I will check the ingredients.

Thank you. Awaiting your findings.

sanderson wrote:Thank you.  Awaiting your findings.

  Thought maybe it was using Gold Dust for filler.......no such.

Looks like the same 3 cu ft bag of peat I recently purchased from Lowe's for $19.98.

Frost? wrote:. . .   Thought maybe it was using Gold Dust for filler.......no such.

Looks good.

OhioGardener wrote:Looks like the same 3 cu ft bag of peat I recently purchased from Lowe's for $19.98.

  At which rate my 3.8 cu ft bale would have cost $25.  Somebody saw me coming!

Frost? wrote: At which rate my 3.8 cu ft bale would have cost $25.  Somebody saw me coming!

Yes, the local True Value sells a "Premier, Sphagnum Peat Moss, 3.8-Cu. Ft." for $25.99.

Made it over to Walmart and Lowes today (not far, just chaotic - prefer to avoid).  Walmart was out of both Peat Moss and Black Kow.  Lowes had Black Kow ($5.98 - used to be about a buck cheaper), and four 3 cu/ft bales of Peat Moss - no price marked.  Website says it's $19.98 a bale - but they show a different brand than what was in stock.  I presume it is as OG stated $19.98.

Frost? wrote:Made it over to Walmart and Lowes today (not far, just chaotic - prefer to avoid).  Walmart was out of both Peat Moss and Black Kow.  Lowes had Black Kow ($5.98 - used to be about a buck cheaper), and four 3 cu/ft bales of Peat Moss - no price marked.  Website says it's $19.98 a bale - but they show a different brand than what was in stock.  I presume it is as OG stated $19.98.

So, did you decide not to buy any peat while you were there?

Yes.  I was only "scouting" price on Peat (and availability).  My $34.00 bale will satisfy me till Spring for sure.  I did pick up some Black Kow.

Frost? wrote:Yes.  I was only "scouting" price on Peat (and availability).  My $34.00 bale will satisfy me till Spring for sure.  I did pick up some Black Kow.

If you're intending to build another SFG box, you might consider buying now since it doesn't look like our inflationary spiral is going to be headed down any time soon.

Our local HD hasn't advertised peat moss online for more than a year now. Since they made delivery service available, I've only popped over once in person, and then I forgot to check for PM.

Probably good advice.  Sanderson had sent me a couple of links for Peat in my area that I need to check out first; I also noticed only "super fine" vermiculite, so I may need to stay on the look out there too (for future use as well).

Just a word from an industry insider. Peat Moss is going to be hard to come by for 2023. A few reasons why. First, is demand over the last 3 years as consumed at the access inventory most peat moss producers had. Secondly is the harvest was 30-40% of the expectations. Many commercial growers have been told to not exp[ect their volume requirements and many are not receiving any peat at all. Many of the producers are only selling premixes this year because they expect demand to exceed even what they are able to make. Retail may be a little different because they charge more and also use a finer, less of a grower quality peat. Commerical growers prefer a long fiber grower grade peat moss. It's been the talk of all the trade shows and phone conversations I have been having with industry professionals. There is much concern because the growers prefer to control their mixes because the peat producers do not maintain the quality the growers expect and not every plant desires the same blends. Expect to see a lot of wood fiber in mixes that in my opinion is a cheap filler and doesn't make a quality mix, requires more attention and more fertilizers.

Just a FYI

PVPind:  Thanks for the insight.  At least I know not to expect it to get "better".  More encouragement to buy while it's available.

sanderson wrote:Are any of these places near you? https://hub.biz/Inverness-FL/Mulch-Peat-Moss-Products

Thank you again for this link.  I called the two that were closest to me, Southern Landscape in Wildwood and Sun Land in Hernando; neither sells bales of peat.  Southern Landscape offers a "blended" garden soil peat mix by bulk, Sun Land doesn't deal in peat moss at all.  It was worth a shot.

Have you tried these horticultural distributors?

BWI Companies- https://www.bwicompanies.com/

Grow South- https://grosouth.com/

Atlas Peat- https://www.atlaspeatandsoil.com/

PVPind wrote:Have you tried these horticultural distributors?

BWI Companies- https://www.bwicompanies.com/

Grow South- https://grosouth.com/

Atlas Peat- https://www.atlaspeatandsoil.com/

  No, but thank you; I'll look into them.  Went to Walmart & Lowes today (they're neighbors to each other) looking for other "stuff"; and checked on the Peat Moss.  Walmart is still out, but what they expect to carry is a 2.2 cu/ft bale for $11.99 ($5.45 a cu/ft); Lowes had reloaded the bay with a pallet full - 3.8 cu/ft for $19.98 ($5.25 per cu/ft); vs the $33.56 or something I paid for my 3.8 cu/ft ($8.83 per cu/ft).  I bout a bale from Lowes for "stock".