"Mama Bear" wrote in message
...

Moist peat
moss won't blow anywhere, and neither will it wick water from
the ground.

That's what I was thinking.

As peat moss dries, it sometimes forms a crust which can be difficult for
seed to penetrate. This is why it's supposed to be mixed into the soil. I
have a question. Have you ever actually handled peat moss that's been broken
down from chunks into a powdery state? I mean....have you touched it with
your hands, especially when it's dry?



As for wicking significant water out of the
ground, I know that peat pots do that if they are only partly
buried, but I think this is sufficiently different.

Added even later (From http://www.greengate.ca/lawns_sod/):
"After seeding apply a thin layer of peat moss over the entire
area. This helps retain moisture and holds the seed to ensure
a quality product." So the idea is not unknown.

The sarcastic tone of some posters here, who wrote from
ignorance as if they actually knew something about the topic,
is not justified.

Ask a simple question on usenet and everyone is an expert, even
when they don't know what they're talking about.


I have another question. Two, actually. No...wait. Three.

1) Tell me how long I've been gardening and how many dozens of books I've
read on the subject.

2) How long have you been gardening and how many books you've read on the
subject.

3) You said "everyone is an expert". When you asked your original question,
did you want advice from someone who was NOT an expert? If so, why didn't
you ask anyone who knew what they were talking about to please refrain from
answering?

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
"Mama Bear" wrote in message
...

Moist peat
moss won't blow anywhere, and neither will it wick water from
the ground.

That's what I was thinking.

As peat moss dries, it sometimes forms a crust which can be difficult for
seed to penetrate. This is why it's supposed to be mixed into the soil. I
have a question. Have you ever actually handled peat moss that's been
broken
down from chunks into a powdery state? I mean....have you touched it with
your hands, especially when it's dry?



As for wicking significant water out of the
ground, I know that peat pots do that if they are only partly
buried, but I think this is sufficiently different.

Added even later (From http://www.greengate.ca/lawns_sod/):
"After seeding apply a thin layer of peat moss over the entire
area. This helps retain moisture and holds the seed to ensure
a quality product." So the idea is not unknown.

The sarcastic tone of some posters here, who wrote from
ignorance as if they actually knew something about the topic,
is not justified.

Ask a simple question on usenet and everyone is an expert, even
when they don't know what they're talking about.


I have another question. Two, actually. No...wait. Three.

1) Tell me how long I've been gardening and how many dozens of books I've
read on the subject.

2) How long have you been gardening and how many books you've read on the
subject.

3) You said "everyone is an expert". When you asked your original
question,
did you want advice from someone who was NOT an expert? If so, why didn't
you ask anyone who knew what they were talking about to please refrain
from
answering?

Your claims here that you are speaking from authority make you sound like a
midaeval church official who denied that heavy bodies fall as fast as light
ones. You have never tried this, or spoken with anyone who has. Experiment
is a lot more conclusive than theory.

As for wicking, if peat is mixed into soil many pieces of peat undoubtedly
stick out a bit. Yet the peat-soil mix is not dried out by any wicking
effect. It is, in fact, a recommended mix for starting sod where peat is
cheap. Yes, I have handled peat. I have also tossed handfuls of it onto my
garden and seen them in the same spot months later, having failed to notice
your opinion and blow away. (and yes, that's sarcasm.)

"Andrew Ostrander" wrote in message
...


"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
"Mama Bear" wrote in message
...

Moist peat
moss won't blow anywhere, and neither will it wick water from
the ground.

That's what I was thinking.

As peat moss dries, it sometimes forms a crust which can be difficult for
seed to penetrate. This is why it's supposed to be mixed into the soil. I
have a question. Have you ever actually handled peat moss that's been
broken
down from chunks into a powdery state? I mean....have you touched it
with
your hands, especially when it's dry?



As for wicking significant water out of the
ground, I know that peat pots do that if they are only partly
buried, but I think this is sufficiently different.

Added even later (From http://www.greengate.ca/lawns_sod/):
"After seeding apply a thin layer of peat moss over the entire
area. This helps retain moisture and holds the seed to ensure
a quality product." So the idea is not unknown.

The sarcastic tone of some posters here, who wrote from
ignorance as if they actually knew something about the topic,
is not justified.

Ask a simple question on usenet and everyone is an expert, even
when they don't know what they're talking about.


I have another question. Two, actually. No...wait. Three.

1) Tell me how long I've been gardening and how many dozens of books I've
read on the subject.

2) How long have you been gardening and how many books you've read on the
subject.

3) You said "everyone is an expert". When you asked your original
question,
did you want advice from someone who was NOT an expert? If so, why didn't
you ask anyone who knew what they were talking about to please refrain
from
answering?

Your claims here that you are speaking from authority make you sound like
a
midaeval church official who denied that heavy bodies fall as fast as
light
ones. You have never tried this, or spoken with anyone who has.
Experiment
is a lot more conclusive than theory.

"tried this" - I assume you're talking about mechanically launching peat
moss. That's correct - I haven't seen it done. Let me ask you something: If
you see 1000 landscapers create new lawns, and NONE of them "blow" peat moss
onto the surface, does that tell you anything? Let's assume also that 10% of
these people are not private business people, but work for municipalities,
which often have plenty of money for the latest equipment.

Why do you suppose you and I haven't seen this launching idea done with peat
moss?



As for wicking, if peat is mixed into soil many pieces of peat undoubtedly
stick out a bit. Yet the peat-soil mix is not dried out by any wicking
effect. It is, in fact, a recommended mix for starting sod where peat is
cheap. Yes, I have handled peat. I have also tossed handfuls of it onto
my
garden and seen them in the same spot months later, having failed to
notice
your opinion and blow away. (and yes, that's sarcasm.)



I noticed that the OP has now said that the person who suggested the idea to
her in the first place might not be so reliable. Maybe she'll explain why
later today.

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
"Andrew Ostrander" wrote in message
...
"tried this" - I assume you're talking about mechanically launching peat
moss. That's correct - I haven't seen it done. Let me ask you something:
If
you see 1000 landscapers create new lawns, and NONE of them "blow" peat
moss
onto the surface, does that tell you anything? Let's assume also that 10%
of
these people are not private business people, but work for municipalities,
which often have plenty of money for the latest equipment.

Why do you suppose you and I haven't seen this launching idea done with
peat
moss?

I expect blowing on peat moss is not the most cost-effective way to
establish a new lawn in most situations. But the OP did not ask how to
establish a new lawn, she asked where to buy a tool, and in response she got
general advice. This advice was presented as factual but it was not based on
experience, and I did not and do not agree with the advice. I reproduce it
he

Peat moss also dries out very quickly when exposed to air. Then, two
things
happen: First, it acts like a sponge and sucks moisture out of adjacent
materials, like your soil. This assumes it remains in place, which is
probably won't if it's been pulverized and there's any wind. The only
correct way to use peat moss on a lawn is to work it into the soil, not
just
put it on top.

I will also point out that she is not starting a new lawn but trying to fill
in an existing lawn, so comparisons with starting new lawns are not very
informative.