"Over The Garden Fence
with Daisy Mae" looks into the benefits of Mulching,
and how it enriches and protects your garden soil, helping
to provide a better growing environment for both plants
and vegetables alike. Mulching adds vital nutrients back
into the soil in a totally organic and environmentally friendly
way.
Done regularly your garden
soil will continue to be organically fertile and never become
stale or baron producing beautiful healthy and productive
plants and abundant crops full of natural goodness…
.
Mulch's for your garden…
Mulching is one of the simplest
and most beneficial practices you can use in the garden.
Mulch is simply a protective layer of a material that is
spread on top of the soil. Mulches can either be organic--such
as grass clippings, straw, bark chips, and similar materials--or
inorganic-- such as stones, brick chips, and plastic. Both
organic and inorganic mulches have numerous benefits however
it must be noted that the inorganic mulches add no nutritional
value to your soil….
Mulch:…
1/. It protects the
soil from erosion…
2/. Reduces compaction from the impact of heavy rains…
3/. Conserves moisture, reducing the need for frequent
watering…
4/. Maintains a more even soil temperature…
5/. Prevents weed growth…
6/. Keeps fruits and vegetables clean…
7/. Keeps feet clean, allowing access to garden even
when damp…
8/. Provides a "finished" look to the garden…
Organic mulches also improve
the condition of the soil. As these mulches slowly decompose,
they provide organic matter which helps keep the soil loose.
This improves root growth, increases the infiltration of
water, and also improves the water-holding capacity of the
soil. Organic matter is a source of plant nutrients and
provides an ideal environment for earthworms and other beneficial
soil organisms. While inorganic mulches have their place
in certain landscapes, they lack the soil improving properties
of organic mulches. Inorganic mulches, because of their
permanence, may be difficult to remove if you decide to
change your garden plans at a later date. Therefore, this
tip sheet is limited to the use of organic mulches….
Mulching materials…
You can find mulch materials
in your own yard! Lawn clippings make excellent mulch. While
not particularly attractive for a flower bed, they work
wonderfully in the vegetable garden. The fine texture allows
them to be spread easily even around small plants. However,
grass clippings are becoming scarce because of the increased
popularity of mulching lawnmowers that provide many of the
same benefits of mulching to lawns. Newspaper, as mulch,
works especially well to control weeds….
Leaves are another readily
available material to use as mulch. Leaf mould, or the decomposed
remains of leaves, gives the forest floor its absorbent
spongy structure. Compost makes wonderful mulch if you have
a large supply. Compost not only improves the soil structure
but provides an excellent source of plant nutrients. Bark
chips and composted bark mulch are available at garden centres.
These make a neat finish to the garden bed and will eventually
improve the condition of the soil. These may last for one
to three years or more depending on the size of the chips
or how well composed the bark mulch is. Smaller chips tend
to be easier to spread, especially around small plants.
Depending on where you live, numerous other materials make
excellent mulches. Hay and straw work well in the vegetable
garden, although they may harbour weed seeds. Seaweed mulch,
ground corn cobs, and pine needles can also be used. Pine
needles tend to increase the acidity of the soil so they
work best around acid-loving plants such as blueberries….
When to apply mulch…
Time of application depends
on what you hope to achieve by mulching. Mulches, by providing
an insulating barrier between the soil and the air, moderate
the soil temperature. This means that a mulched soil in
the summer will be cooler than an adjacent unmulched soil;
while in the winter, the mulched soil may not freeze as
deeply. However, since mulch acts as an insulating layer,
mulched soils tend to warm up more slowly in the spring
and cool down more slowly in the fall than unmulched soils.
If you are using mulches in your vegetable garden, it is
best to apply them after the soil has warmed up in the spring.
Cool, wet soils tend to slow seed germination and increase
the decay of seeds and seedlings. If adding additional layers
of mulch to existing perennial beds, wait until the soil
has warmed completely….
Mulches used to help moderate
winter temperatures can be applied late in the fall after
the ground has frozen but before the coldest temperatures
arrive. Applying mulches before the ground has frozen may
attract rodents looking for a warm over-wintering site.
Delayed applications of mulch should prevent this problem
as, hopefully, the creatures would already have found some
other place to nest! Mulches used to protect plants over
winter should be loose material such as straw, hay, or pine
boughs that will help insulate the plants without compacting
under the weight of snow and ice. One of the benefits from
winter applications of mulch is the reduction in the freezing
and thawing of the soil in the late winter and early spring.
These repeated cycles of freezing at night and then thawing
in the warmth of the sun cause many small or shallow rooted
plants to be heaved out of the soil….
This leaves their root systems
exposed and results in injury or death. Mulching helps prevent
rapid fluctuations in soil temperature and reduces the chances
of heaving….
Applying mulch…
1/. Begin by asking
yourself the following questions….
What do I hope to achieve by
mulching?...
Weed control? Moisture retention?
Soil improvement? Beautification?...
How large is the area to be
mulched? ,,,
How much mulch will I need
to cover the area?...
Mulch is measured in cubic
feet. As an example, if you have an area 10 feet by 10 feet
and you wish to apply 3 inches of mulch, you would need
25 cubic feet. (10' x 10' x .25' = 25 cu. ft.) …
2/. Determine what mulch
material to use and purchase or accumulate what you need….
Mulch can often be purchased
bagged or bulk from garden centres. Bulk may be cheaper
if you need large volumes and have a way to haul it. Bagged
mulch is often easier to handle, especially for smaller
projects. Most bagged mulch comes in 3-cubic feet bags.
Compost-- Leaves-- Collect leaves in the fall. Most of your
neighbours would love to give you these off their lawns
and driveways, without realizing their value to the amateur
gardener….
Chop with a lawnmower or shredder.
Whole leaves tend to compact if wet or blow away if dry.
Chopping will reduce the volume and facilitate composting….
Compost leaves over winter.
Some studies have indicated that freshly chopped leaves
may inhibit the growth of certain crops. Therefore, it may
be advisable to compost the leaves over winter before spreading
them….
Grass clippings- Spread them
immediately to avoid heating and rotting….
Newspaper- Save your own newspapers.
Notes …
Smaller chips are easier to
spread, especially around small plants. When spreading mulch
around trees, keep the mulch an inch or two away from the
trunk. A couple inches of mulch is adequate. There is no
need to apply the mulch 6 or 8 inches high, as often is
seen. Similar to bark mulch. If using fresh wood chips that
are mixed with a lot of leaves, composting may be beneficial.
Best to chop and compost before spreading. If using dry
leaves, apply about six inches deep. Thicker layers tend
to compact and rot, becoming quite slimy and smelly. Add
additional layers as clippings decompose. Do not use clippings
from lawns treated with herbicides. Apply sheets of newspaper
and cover lightly with grass clippings or other mulch material
to anchor. If other mulch materials are not available cover
edges of paper with soil….
Applying on a windy day can
be a problem. Use only newspaper text pages (black ink);
colour dyes may be harmful to soil micro flora and fauna
if composted and used…
Use 3 or 4 sheets together,
anchored with grass clippings or other mulch material to
prevent blowing away….
The amount of mulch to apply
will be determined by the mulch material you are using….
General Guidelines: …
Do not apply mulch directly
in contact with plants. Leave an inch or so of space next
to plants to help prevent diseases flourishing from excessive
humidity….
Remove weeds before spreading
mulch. Bark mulch and wood chips are sometimes used with
landscape fabric or plastic. The fabric or plastic is laid
on top of the soil and then covered with a layer of bark
chips. A caution to this practice: while the plastic or
fabric may initially provide additional protection against
weeds, as the mulch breaks down, weeds will start to grow
in the mulch itself. The barrier between the soil and the
mulch also prevents any improvement in the soil condition
and makes planting additional plants more difficult….
I hope you've enjoyed this
article; it's off to the potting shed for me, as there is
always plenty to do no matter what time of year it is, an
amateur gardener's work is never done.
Do look out for any of our
other articles, but most of all........
"HAPPY GARDENING until
we all meet again Over the Garden Fence with Daisy Mae"
our resident green fingered amateur gardener
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