Spread moist soil on a cookie tray and bake at 180 degrees F for 30 minutes. Peat Moss or coco fiber - Peat moss is partially decomposed sphagnum moss. When purchasing peat moss, look for sphagnum peat moss. Michigan peat, peat humus and native peat are usually too decomposed. Coco fiber is a byproduct of the coconut industry and much more environmentally sound than peat moss.
Coco fiber is sold in bricks, which are easy to transport.
Once wet the coco fiber swells to 3 cubic feet. Both are free of weed seeds and diseases. Both hold nutrients and water in the soil. Apply warm water and wait at least on hour to wet products throughly. Pasteurized compost can also be used.