Science > Gardening

Mulching.

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Johnno:
I have been mulching for some years, mainly due to the previous seasons dry conditions and water restrictions. I've tried pine bark, sugar cane and chipped timber from my property. Best method so far has been using newspapers (about ten sheets thick) with coarse wood chips on top. Not only does it keep the water in and slows evaporation, it also acts as a more natural weed mat than plastic sheeting or poly propylene woven mats. The newspapers allows the plants and worms breathe a bit better and lets the water in following a good soak.  The newspaper degrades over time too, so once and awhile you have to re-mulch and till/air out the soil.

Came across the newspaper method whilst reading an old magazine at the doctor's waiting room. Original article was from the ABC gardening magazine. Pretty well the same article here.

http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s972620.htm

Al Today:

--- Quote from: Johnno on July 21, 2011, 07:59:40 AM ---Best method so far has been using newspapers (about ten sheets thick) with coarse wood chips on top.

--- End quote ---

I agree. I've been doing this for years and is by far the best way seen.!.!.!
 :) :) :)

Mr.Anderson:
In addition to newspaper, straw, cow pies, if you can get them and compost work well also. Some bark, like oak, is very acidic.

Al Today:
I've been using pine mulch. A few years back the woods was on file and got to my big tall pines that were my western edge windbreak. They lit up like an old xmas tree. Whoosh... Anyway, I ended up with a few years worth of mulch composting.
Good stuff...

Skyfarmr:
Would like to second the newspaper/straw mulching with an additional precaution.  I've found that the newspaper is favored by earwigs for nesting, and earwigs like to make a snack out of some plants.  So I sprinkle ground eggshells around base of plant before putting down newspaper and again after spreading straw...they don't like the scratchiness and tend to find somewhere else to nest.  Then if they still persists I sprinkle diatomaceous earth, which only works when it is dry.  it needs to be reapplied after watering/rain. 

Back to the mulching though, we sometimes spread the straw out on the lawn before we mow and then spread the clippings on the garden.  SEems to prevent the grass clippings from getting matted and moldy and it chops up the straw too.  This year, however, that method's been difficult to do because of the lack of rain, decreased mowing, and the only thing growing are "weeds"... and we don't need more weed seeds in the garden.

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