2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Mulching is a fairly common gardening procedure. But every gardener carries it out in his own way. What features does this "miracle dressing" have? And how can it be useful?
The term "mulch" refers to various types of material that is used as a cover for the soil, applied or spread on its surface. The main purpose of mulch is to regulate air and water regimes. But it is also used to tidy the garden beds, retain moisture and coolness in the soil, enrich the soil with nutrients and suppress the growth of weeds. Organic mulch, due to its decomposition, contributes to the improvement of soil fertility.
Organic mulch can be:
• Bark of fine fraction or sawdust;
• Compost;
• Mown grass;
• Manure;
• Straw;
• Shredded leaves;
• Newspapers.
Organic mulch degrades over time and needs to be replaced. Nevertheless, in the process of mulching, soil fertility improves, the amount of nutrients increases. The drier the material is used, the slower it decomposes, which means less nutrients will enter the soil. Be especially careful with materials such as compost, manure or straw as they may contain viable weed seeds.
Tree bark
Bark as mulch is necessary if you have rarely dug places on the site: around shrubs and trees, flower beds with perennial plants, paths. Wood mulch is used after loosening and leveling the soil with a layer of up to 6 cm. If you need to make room for new plants, then the mulch is pushed aside.
Manure and compost
These types of organics can be used anywhere to provide plants with substances useful for growth and prevent the development of diseases, as well as suppress the growth of weeds. Both manure and compost can be used as plant fertilizer during the growing season to stimulate growth.
Grass
Cut grass is good for areas of the garden where weed control is desired. Fresh hay contains a lot of water, so it quickly decomposes, resulting in an unpleasant-smelling mucus, so many are wary of such mulch. Moreover, the cut grass lays down in a dense layer that does not allow water and air to pass through.
The best option is not to remove the grass cut with a lawn mower, leaving it to improve soil fertility. It is worth remembering that synthetic lawn care products can adversely affect some plants if you choose to use this mulch in your garden. Mulching is best done with unprocessed grass. It is also suitable as a raw material for compost or for covering open areas.
Straw
It is very popular as a mulch. Straw protects plants from diseases. Due to its slow decomposition, which lasts the entire growing season, there is no need to renew it. The straw serves as a home for beneficial insects and protects against pests. Straw mulch prevents soil freezing and soil compaction. It is easily removed when there is a need for soil cultivation or planting new plants.
Newspapers
"Newspaper" mulch is gaining more and more popularity among gardeners. Publishers often use organic dyes for black and white stripes. Shredded newspaper can be used to preserve plant roots while retaining moisture well. In addition, layers of newspapers, like other types of mulch, suppress weed growth by controlling the temperature of the soil. This mulching is great for developing new territory and inhibiting grass growth.
Shredded newspapers in 7-8 layers are distributed around the plants, pre-wetting them in water so that they do not scatter from the wind. It is necessary to use newspaper mulch for weed control throughout the growing season.
Leaves
Shredded leaves are suitable as mulch for any place, an additional bonus of which is free access to them. Even compost does not have as many beneficial properties as leaves. Some gardeners believe that withered leaves spoil the appearance of the site. However, their use in the spring has a beneficial effect on the development of plants. Mulching is best done with leaves collected in autumn in the forest or near the site. During the winter, the gradually decaying foliage of the mulch feeds the soil. In rainy areas, leaves can clump together with the mat and repel water. In this case, it is enough to mix them.
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