Miracle-Gro’s Commitment to Responsible Peat Sourcing

Close-up view of a peat bog with sphagnum moss in yellow and orange, interspersed with green wetland plants. — Growing a Greener Garden: Miracle-Gro's Commitment to Responsible Peat Sourcing

Learn about Miracle-Gro's dedication to responsible peat sourcing, environmental stewardship, and offering greener solutions for every gardener.

In the world of gardening, few things spark as much joy as seeing your plants thrive. Peat moss has been a trusted natural ingredient in gardening soils and potting mixes for generations. We understand that there’s a growing conversation around gardening practices and their environmental impact, especially concerning materials like peat moss. At Miracle-Gro, using it comes with an unwavering commitment to responsible sourcing and environmental stewardship. That's not marketing language; it's how we source.

At Miracle-Gro, we believe that nurturing plants goes hand-in-hand with nurturing our planet. That's why responsible sourcing and environmental stewardship aren't just buzzwords for us – they're core to who we are and what we do. We do our best to provide sustainable, ethical solutions to help every gardener enjoy their piece of earth.

What Is Peat Moss, and Why Do Gardeners Use It?

Peat moss is prized in gardening soils and mixes for its ability to retain moisture, improve aeration, and maintain a consistent, well-draining texture. Those properties support strong root development and healthy plant growth, while helping prevent the kind of soil compaction that can starve roots of the oxygen they need for strong, vigorous growth.

Canadian sphagnum peat moss used as soil conditioner in gardening, a small pile on a wooden surface

Garden Dictionary

Peat moss: partially decomposed sphagnum moss harvested from peat bogs, valued in gardening soils for its ability to retain moisture, improve aeration, and maintain a consistent, well-draining texture.

Is Miracle-Gro’s Peat Moss Sustainably Sourced?

Yes. The vast majority of the peat in Miracle-Gro products comes from Canadian peatlands, harvested under some of the strictest environmental oversight in the industry. Less than 0.03% of Canada's almost 282 million acres of peatland are harvested for horticultural-based peat. Harvesting operations are subject to stringent environmental regulations and government oversight at every stage, and Canada is recognized globally for its leadership in sustainable peatland management.

Our goal is to be a leader in environmental stewardship, which is why we hold ourselves to standards higher than the minimum regulatory requirements. Beyond regulatory compliance, Miracle-Gro's peat suppliers are certified under the Veriflora Responsibly Managed Peatlands standard, administered by SCS Global Services. That certification confirms a supplier meets the highest set of international environmental, social, and economic criteria for sustainable peatland management— covering everything from site selection and ecosystem protection to worker safety. It’s a holistic approach rooted in scientific best practices involving diligent planning long before any harvesting begins, specific methods designed to facilitate effective restoration, managing water levels, protecting biodiversity, and ensuring the long-term health of these vital ecosystems.

This isn't just a Miracle-Gro-only standard, either. The Veriflora program is administered on behalf of the Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association (CSPMA)—the industry association representing Canada's peat producers—and according to CSPMA, roughly 80% of all peat extracted in Canada in a given year is now certified under this program. That means responsible sourcing isn't just a Miracle-Gro commitment; it's become the industry-wide norm for Canadian peat.

How Long Does It Take a Harvested Peat Bog to Recover?

Responsible sourcing doesn't end when harvesting is done; active restoration is a cornerstone of our approach. This isn’t a passive process; it’s a dedicated effort to return harvested peatlands to thriving, functioning ecosystems. Harvested sites are re-vegetated with sphagnum moss (the peatland's dominant native species) which is crucial for the natural formation of peat. Water levels are carefully managed to provide the conditions needed for native flora and fauna to return and flourish.

What bog restoration actually restores:

Plant coverage typically recovers within three to five years of active restoration work.
Carbon sequestration—the peatland's ability to capture and store atmospheric carbon—returns within 10 to 15 years, supporting a long-term carbon footprint reduction.
Water filtration and water conservation—peatlands act as natural water filters and reservoirs and are similarly restored on that same 10- to 15-year timeline.
Biodiversity returns alongside the native sphagnum moss, along with the wildlife habitat it supports.

This commitment to peatland restoration ensures that vital ecosystems are not just sustained, but actively renewed for future generations.

Saint-Narcisse peat bog natural park (Saint-Narcisse, Quebec, Canada)

Does Harvesting Peat Moss Contribute to Climate Change?

You may have come across the concern raised by some environmental researchers that disturbing peatlands releases stored carbon and contributes to climate change. It's a fair question, and it deserves a straight answer rather than silence: undisturbed peatlands are genuinely significant carbon sinks, and disturbing any peatland is a real environmental impact worth taking seriously.

That's exactly why the practices described above exist. Harvesting only a small, regulated fraction of Canada's peatlands, working under a third-party certification that roughly 80% of the Canadian industry now holds, and actively restoring harvested sites so their carbon-storing function returns within 10 to 15 years are the specific mechanisms that keep peat harvesting's climate impact minimal and time-limited, not an argument that peat moss harvesting has zero impact at all. Responsible sourcing means acknowledging the trade-off honestly and managing it, not pretending it doesn't exist.

What Peat-Free Alternatives Does Miracle-Gro Offer?

For gardeners who'd rather skip peat altogether, Miracle-Gro also makes peat-free products using upcycled green waste, compost, and sustainable wood fibers. These are the same types of materials behind Miracle-Gro's broader sustainability commitments, which include more than 3 billion pounds of recycled green waste used in our Miracle-Gro's product lines every year, transforming them into valuable resources for your garden and diverting them from landfills.

Hands holding peat-free Miracle-Gro Organic Raised Bed & Garden Soil

At Miracle-Gro, our commitment to sustainability extends far beyond peat moss. It’s part of a broader vision to foster a greener future for gardening, from responsible packaging to water conservation initiatives. We're continuously exploring and investing in innovative solutions that support both thriving gardens and a healthy planet.

What Else Is Miracle-Gro Doing to Make Peat Sourcing More Sustainable?

Our dedication to sustainable peat sourcing is also deeply rooted in collaboration and continuous learning. Beyond sourcing and restoration, Miracle-Gro partners with leading research institutions and environmental experts, including the Peatland Ecology Research Group (PERG), to keep improving restoration science and understanding peatland ecology. This scientific rigor ensures that we are always evolving, seeking out better ways to care for the environment. We also engage with local communities and Indigenous populations near our sourcing areas, aiming for respectful engagement and open dialogue. Peat is also just one part of a wider sustainability effort at Miracle-Gro that touches packaging and water conservation as well.

Whether you choose our trusted peat-based products, knowing they are responsibly sourced, or opt for our growing range of peat-free options, you can trust that Miracle-Gro is dedicated to empowering you to cultivate a beautiful garden while caring for our shared Earth. Together, we can continue to grow a greener world, one beautiful garden at a time.