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If you
want to help keep moisture in your soil, use mulch. If you want to
keep the weeds down in your garden, use mulch. If you want your garden
beds to have that professional look, use mulch. Mulch. It sounds like
it is the solution to all problems in a garden. What is mulch, and
how should it be used? That is the focus of this week's article.
Mulch is any of a variety of ground coverings that help to keep moisture
in the ground, and keep weeds from growing. It helps prevent erosion
and reduces compaction of the soil. Fruits and vegetables are cleaner
when sitting on mulch than when they rest on soil. Mulch also maintains
a more even soil temperature.
There are many kinds of mulch. Mulches can be organic (such as grass
clippings, straw, hay, leaves, or bark chips) or inorganic, including
stones, brick chips, and plastic. Both kinds of mulch have their beneficial
properties.
Inorganic mulches are used in commercial agriculture. Clear plastic
can be used to help warm the soil to give some crops a head start
since the plastic acts like a mini greenhouse. Gravel and pebbles
that are used to mulch flowerbeds are usually used in conjunction
with black plastic.
Black plastic can also be used in vegetable gardens. The plastic is
placed on the soil before the seedlings are planted, and holes are
punched into the plastic where the plants are to be placed. Seeds
can be sown in the same way. Just make a hole in the plastic and plant
the seeds. Melons, squash and cucumbers do well using this method
since they require warm soil conditions for optimum germination. When
using plastic, remember to put holes for drainage at various intervals.
Organic mulch should be applied in a thickness of about 3 inches to
the ground after it has warmed. Applying it too early in the season
will keep the coolness in the soil since it acts like an insulator.
A plus in using organic mulches is that they decompose and add nutrients
into the soil. At the end of the gardening season, they can be worked
into the soil as compost. When using hay and straw, be careful because
there may be weed seeds in the material. Never use manure as mulch.
Allow newly mown grass to dry before applying next to plants. Newspaper
that is used as mulch should be applied at a thickness of about ¼
inch, and covered with grass clippings or leaves. Bark chips are longer
lasting organic mulches and can last up to 3 years in a bed. They
provide a finished look to a garden, and are usually used around bushes
and in flowerbeds. Pine needles provide acid to the soil and are good
for acid loving plants such as blueberries and rhododendrons.
Besides keeping the weed count down in a garden (and who wouldn't
want that?) mulch helps in maintaining moisture in the soil. Some
people are concerned about the weather conditions and point to the
fact that we in Yates County have had a relatively dry winter with
a relatively dry spring. Those
facts could lead to the dreaded potential drought. Mulching your garden
will allow you to cut down on watering.
The benefits of mulch are numerous. Whatever method you choose to
use, make the most of your mulch! For further information about lawn
and gardening, call the Master Gardeners of Cornell Cooperative Extension
of Yates County at 315.536.5123.
Last updated:
6/7/01
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