Benefits of Mulching
Mulching is the
application of organic matter on any exposed soil between plants and
shrubs and should be carried out while the soil is warm and moist.
There are lots of
benefits to adding a good layer of mulch each season:
• A good layer of garden
compost or well-rotted mature will keep the soil below cool and
moist and therefore help retain moisture. Never mulch on top of dry
soil as it may stop rainwater soaking in
• A layer of mulch will
exclude light and therefore stop weed seeds germinating. However,
you must ensure that the ground is weed free before you mulch as it
does not actually stop the weeds from growing
• The mulch will
eventually be dragged down into the soil by worms thereby adding
goodness to the lower levels of the soil. This is sometimes known as
the "no dig" technique for soil improvement.
Types of Mulch
• Fresh manure releases
ammonia which can scorch or kill plants, therefore, should be kept
for six months before being used so that it rots down sufficiently.
Don't keep it too long though as you will find all the nutrients
will have been washed out by the rain
• Leaf Mould is just well
rotted leaves but it makes wonderful mulch. Just collect fallen
leaves during the autumn, pack into black plastic bags, make some
holes in the bags to allow rain water to escape and leave to rot
down for 2-3 years
• Mushroom compost tends
to be alkaline due to the chalk used in the casing material but if
you live in a mushroom growing area it can be a good source of
organic matter. It is especially good for acid soils
• Chipped Bark is good
for mulching but composted bark is excellent for soil improvement
• Your own garden compost
is rich in nutrients and is one of the best soil improvers there is
so use it as mulch every year to get the benefits.
Now you're ready to
start planting.
|
