Johnno
The Living Force
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
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