How to Get Rid of Peat Moss

Overview

Peat moss is fine, brown, dead material from the bottom of bogs that is compressed into bales. It is used as a soil amendment. It improves water retention, as well as nutrient movement and aeration in the soil. When buying large amounts of peat moss for a garden project, it is possible you might purchase more than you need. Excess peat moss will dry out quickly, ruining its structure. Instead of throwing the peat out, use it in a worm compost pile for later use in amending soil.

Step 1

Drill 1/4-inch holes along the bottom of one plastic container. Place bricks inside of the second plastic container, and place the container with the holes onto the bricks. The second container catches excess liquid.

Step 2

Mix together the peat moss and water so that the composition of the peat moss is 75 percent water for the bedding, recommends the University of Missouri Extension. Squeeze the peat moss until it holds the shape of a ball and does not break apart.

Step 3

Add 8 inches of moistened peat moss to the plastic container with the holes.

Step 4

Place red wrigglers onto the top of the bedding and cover the container with its lid. Use 1 pound of worms for every square foot of space in your container. Allow a few hours for the worms to dig their way into the bedding.

Step 5

Dig a hole into the bedding using your hands and fill the hole with kitchen waste such as egg shells, tea bags, coffee, vegetable scraps and fruit scraps. Avoid too much citrus, and never add any dairy, meat, fish or other fatty foods.

Step 6

Keep the bedding moist. Move composted bedding every three to six months to one side of the bin and add new peat moss and scraps. Cover the container again and allow the worms to move over to the new bedding over the course of a few hours. Remove the cover and harvest your compost.