The experienced gardener and the gardener for certain will be able long to tell about mulching process as he knows that without similar practice you should not wait for big victories in the garden or in kitchen garden.
Mulching is covering of the soil mulch, i.e. protective layer. Mulching can be continuous or interrow. Process is widely used as at cultivation of vegetable, berry and fruit crops, and in care for ornamental plants.
Protection, fertilizing and many other things
Such frequent use is caused by the various purposes of holding this procedure. Mulching first of all is applied to enrichment of the poor soil with organic matters. One more important role of this process in thermal control of condition of the soil: in the summer the layer of mulch protects roots of plants from overheating and excessive loss of moisture from top layer of the earth, in the winter, on the contrary, protects plant from freezing, in more global scales this practice is applied in agriculture to fight against weeds.
Interrow flooring mulch reduces growth of weeds by thickness of 5-7 centimeters by 5 times. And it is already significant economy of physical force for weeding. And besides in that case the need for processing of the earth the toxic chemicals harmful both for growth of useful plants, and for human health disappears.
Rules of mulching
The first, most often used component – peat. It well holds moisture, is most useful to vegetable cultures. However it is not necessary to be fond, the peat layer should not be too dense and high. Other often used ingredient – wood bark and spill. Pieces have to be small 3-5 centimeters, just such that moisture easily got between them. By the way, such protection can be used and just as decorative accessory for the purpose of concealment of view of the naked earth. Is the most suitable for mulching of the soil under fruit-trees and bushes. The pine and fir-tree needles will be ideal as mulch for low-growing ornamental plants and also berry bushes, such as strawberry and wild strawberry. In this case such manipulation will not allow to extend gray decay, and during rain will protect from sticking of sand on flowers and fruits. The most universal components for mulch it is considered to be well rerotting manure, garden compost. Also straw cutting, mowed grass, sawdust, fallen leaves is applied. Having decided on material for mulching, it is worth distributing it on bed or bed layer in 7-10 centimeters. Depending on the purpose the mulching is carried out in the spring or in the fall. It is not necessary to hurry in the spring, better to give to the open earth to get warm a little. In the fall on the contrary it is worth hurrying, time is necessary that to covering to mature and the first frosts can appear suddenly absolutely unexpectedly. You should not ignore this procedure. It was prompted by the nature. In the habitat the died-off plant material remains under plant and serves as its roots as full and universal protection.