While working over a wire story about mulches for this Sunday's Lifebeat Home section, I came upon this undated but tidy summary of peats from House and Garden. It explains a lot.

I'd heard about the controversy over the use of "peat moss" (I'll never use that phrase again!), and the rise of peat-free mixes that don't deplete ancient bogs. Now I know the magic phrase "sphagnum peat".

I'm not sure that anyone would use peat to mulch much more than a plant pot, but you never know.

The full mulch story will be on the Gardening page on Sunday.