Peat-Free Growing at Champion Plants
Peat-Free Growing at Champion Plants
At Champion Plants, all our plants are grown in peat-free compost. This is a commitment rooted in how we believe plants should be grown: sustainably, responsibly, and with the long-term health of our soils and ecosystems in mind.
Shop All Plants – every plant grown in peat-free compost at our Somerset nursery
Buddleja Collection – our speciality, over 60 varieties
Get in Touch – questions about our growing practices? We're happy to help
Why Peat Matters
Peat bogs are among the most important ecosystems on Earth – storing vast amounts of carbon, supporting rare wildlife, and taking thousands of years to form. When peat is extracted for horticultural use, that carbon is released and those habitats are lost. It's a resource that simply cannot be replaced on any meaningful timescale, and we think the industry has a responsibility to move away from it.
How We Grow
We source a high-quality peat-free compost that delivers excellent results for plant establishment and vigour. Whether it's a 9cm pot, a 2 litre, a division, or a bare root plant, every plant that leaves us has been grown in peat-free compost. This is the stage that shapes the root system and overall plant health you receive.
A Note on Propagation
We use a peat-reduced propagation mix for cuttings and seedlings at the earliest stage of production. This is a deliberate, evidence-based decision – trialling fully peat-free propagation mixes led to a significant increase in losses at this critical stage. Peat's buffering properties make it uniquely effective for young cuttings and seedlings, and until peat-free alternatives perform comparably at scale, we believe it's the right call for plant health and reducing waste overall.
Once seedlings are large enough to handle, they are pricked out into peat-free compost. All plugs and liners are potted on into peat-free compost from that point forward. This means we cannot claim to be a fully peat-free nursery – but every plant that leaves us has been grown in peat-free compost for the majority of its life, and we are committed to reducing peat use at every stage as better alternatives become available.
If you need fully peat-free plants, we do offer a range grown entirely without peat – get in touch and we can point you in the right direction.
Recyclable Pots
Our plants are supplied in recyclable pots, reducing unnecessary plastic waste. We also recycle and reuse our own pots – so you may notice different pot colours across batches, particularly in 9cm sizes where we pot on a good number of plants. This is a deliberate part of how we operate, not an inconsistency: reusing pots is better than recycling them, and better still than buying new ones. We're continually reviewing our packaging and materials to minimise our environmental footprint across the whole operation.
What This Means for Your Garden
Plants grown in peat-free compost establish readily in sustainable garden conditions. This means:
- Easy transition: Our plants adapt well to peat-free garden compost or amended soil – no acclimatisation needed.
- Healthy root systems: Peat-free growing media encourages robust, well-structured roots that support strong establishment.
- Consistent quality: We grow the majority of our plants on-site and control every stage of production, so quality is built in – not an afterthought.
When planting out, we recommend continuing with a peat-free compost – either as a planting mix or mulch. The RHS has published guidance on the best-performing peat-free composts available in the UK if you'd like independent advice on what to use.
Our Nursery Ethos
Champion Plants is a family-run nursery. We propagate the majority of our plants on-site – taking cuttings, growing them on, and dispatching only when they're ready. This hands-on approach means we know exactly how every plant has been grown and when it's at its best.
We believe that sustainable horticulture and exceptional plant quality go hand in hand. Growing in peat-free compost and using recyclable pots are part of a broader commitment to doing things the right way – for our customers and for the environment.
Our Commitments
- All plants grown in peat-free compost – every 9cm, 2 litre, division, and bare root plant dispatched from our nursery.
- Peat-reduced propagation mix – used at the cutting and seedling stage only, based on evidence of significantly higher loss rates with fully peat-free alternatives.
- Recyclable pots used throughout – including reused pots from our own nursery, reducing unnecessary plastic from propagation to dispatch.
- Ongoing review of growing inputs – we continually assess our materials and methods to reduce environmental impact as better alternatives become available.
- Transparent communication – honest about how our plants are grown and what peat-free means in practice.
Shop Our Plants
Every plant we sell is grown in peat-free compost at our Somerset nursery and supplied in a recyclable pot – ready to thrive in your garden.