Mulch - What Is It?

Until recently only deal with mulching gardeners southern regions.With the arrival of the intense heat of this thinking and those gardeners who previously did not.Mulch - What Is It?And what is it?Let's face it.

W Protecting n ochvy

Under the influence of the sun, wind and rain uncovered ground each year loses its fertility, its structure is destroyed, and the crust is formed on the surface.Summer heat is overheating and dries the soil, resulting in a cold winter freezing of the roots of some plants.From these factors protect the mulching.

Mulch - What Is It?This coverage of the earth by various materials, inhibits the growth of weeds.Through them may grow powerful perennials, but they are easy to weed by hand.In this agrotechnical methods in soil moisture is retained necessary, therefore, can be watered less frequently.

soil under the artificial "blanket" less heat, which is beneficial to the growth of roots.In winter, perennial plants in such conditions not freeze.

Mulch - What Is It?This protection against pests and diseases.Some studies show that this technique deters moles, protects against the onion and carrot flies, nematodes.In addition, improving the structure of the fertile layer, because it increases the humus content.Become more active earthworms, so the soil becomes loose.Some substances, such as garden compost and rotted manure, further fed arable crops.

How to make mulch

to start preparing the ground surface: clean debris and weeds.These works are carried out in May.Then sprinkle the fertilizer complex and slightly buried his rake.After that, the wet, clean and warm the soil poured a 5-cm layer of a material containing organic matter.The radius of the circle of mulch in the center of which the plant - 45 cm, centered on the bush - 75 cm. The layer of material should reach a little stalks and stems of crops, as otherwise they may rot.

perennial plants mulch is not removed for the next year: just lay the new layer.Under the annual crops substances buried in the ground or placed in a compost heap for processing worms.

materials mulch

popular with gardeners organic mulch - manure, compost, which feed the plants.In addition to these uses:

  • Peat - retains soil moisture, protect from the sun.It is used for mulching planting garlic in the fall, as well as seeds of vegetable plants.
  • chips and bark - provides a beautiful appearance.Suitable for fruit crops.
  • needles of pine or spruce - prevents the growth of botrytis.Used for strawberries.
  • grass cuttings - is used for vegetable beds, but it has to be dried in the sun.
  • Green manure - used for vegetable crops.Is a green mass of the plants that are grown for fertilizer.It is better to mix the disc tools with upper layer of earth.
  • Sawdust - good for all plants, except for annual vegetables.They bring with ash and nitrogen fertilizers.
  • Straw cutting - protects the soil, but it contains weed seeds.With her at the same time you need to apply nitrogen fertilizer.

We responded to the question: "Mulch - what is it?"This agrotechnical methods gradually replacing digging gardens.Its advantages - it is a small labor intensity, greater germination and high yield, preserving the root system of perennial crops.