How is the soil mulched?

How to mulate beds: 14 of the most practical methods I have seen

Many years ago, when I was starting to build my summer house, all my efforts were aimed at “ordering” there – the beds were licked, not a single grass. But later, after she had felt the charm of the bare floor, on which crop plants could not develop normally, she decided to change the course and make a “mess” in the Datsha – to mulch the beds and pull up the corridors. This approach not only helped me to restore soil fertility and achieve a generous harvest, but also released a lot of free time – it was much easier to maintain the plantings.

Mulchen improves plant health and minimizes the maintenance effort

Already in the phase of “exploration” I found that people use a wide variety of materials for mulching beds, and today I decided to collect all these ideas in an article-especially for the same country “dummies” that I was formerly. I want to concentrate on organic mulch. Such materials are often available for each of us and do not require any additional financial effort, and after decay, they improve the quality of the soil on the site.

1. Weeds

I personally liked the variant with weeds best: I plucked the weeds and placed here, in the garden or in the circle of a tree or shrub. Weeds collect on the surface of the floor in a wee d-like form, form a protective layer and protect them from drying out, washing out and weathering and also thundering the growth of their new conspecifics.

Do not bring weed to a landfill – it serves as mulch

Important point: For mulching you have to use coreless grass, otherwise a new “brush” from wild vegetation will soon appear on the beds.

2. hay

There is plenty of space for weeds in my garden and they fill up their mulch regularly. But my neighbors, a couple of pensioners who live permanently on the country from an excess of leisure time, has planted every part of its country with crops. For this reason, they are “stressed” with weeds, and that’s why the head of the family regularly goes to the meadow and prepares a bunch of hay for mulching, and his wife lovingly puts this well in the vegetable shocks under berry shrubs and decorative plants.

Hay is an excellent mulch material

3. Straw

Land residents, whose nearby vastings are often occupied by huge fields with grain crops, have a great opportunity to get straw. Such a organic mulch perfectly fulfills its task and has another valuable advantage-if it rotted, it contributes to the increase of hay bacilli in the ground. This microorganism suppresses pathogenic microflora and protects crops from fungal infections.

Strawberries on a straw spring bed result in a generous harvest and do not become sick

4. lawn grass

Today every second summer resident has a lawn on the site that has to be mowed regularly. After each such process, a pile of cut grass is collected – why should it disappear? That is correct, it can be used for mulch beds.

Many summer residents use mowed lawn grass for mulching.

There is a subtlety here: the lawn grass must first be dried, otherwise after watering the fresh green mass will turn into an airtight layer and undermine the health of vegetables and flowers growing in the garden.

5. Sawdust

Some savvy gardeners have found a “gold mine” in sawmills, where they stock up on sawdust to mulch their beds. Most often, the owners of wood processing plants give away such wood waste for free – if only someone would come and take this garbage out of the area.

Rotten sawdust is a great option for mulching

If you have such a profitable place nearby, do not forget that fresh sawdust mulch has disadvantages – it “pulls” nitrogen out of the soil and strongly acidifies as it rots. Fresh sawdust must either be left alone for a few years and wait for overheating, or be soaked in a urea solution before use (3 buckets of raw materials will need a solution of 10 liters of water and 200 g of urea). ), and the soil on the site is additionally limed.

6. Chips and chips

The same properties have fresh wood shavings and wood chips – larger wood waste. But in a partially rotted form, this organic matter is best for mulching. Compared to sawdust, it rots much longer, so it needs updating much less often. Such a mulch covers the soil with a dense layer, but at the same time perfectly passes air and does not compress like a fine fraction of wood.

Wood chip mulch has many advantages.

Some craftsmen have adapted to prepaint the chopped wood chips in bright colors – such a mulch looks incredibly impressive.

7. Bark

Another option for “woody” mulching is shredded tree bark. The loss of this material during rot is only 15% per year of the original volume, so it can be called the most durable of all types of organic mulch.

Bark is the most durable type of mulch, bark is not suitable for mulching vegetable beds as the soil in the garden has to be turned up regularly, but it is just right for perennial plantings. If there is no place where you can get such a beautiful and durable material, you can buy it. The bark of pine and larch is mainly for sale, it comes in different fractions and is packed in bags of different sizes.

Have a look around our market (selection of bark for mulching), you will probably find something useful.

8. Fallen leaves

In the fall we have available a pile of foliage which some gardeners successfully use to mulch beds with winter grain or stock up dry leaves for future use, and which they lay out in the aisles of vegetable plots next spring.

Foliage is better suited for mulch beds on neutral and alkaline soils.

If you decide to follow their example, remember that for mulching you should only use foliage from under healthy garden plantings. Go into the forest for leaf litter, avoid oak, willow and aspen – the leaves of these trees contain many tannins and can damage crops. Owners of sites with acidic soil should use foliage with caution, as such material will acidify the soil as it rots.

9. Pine needles

It reduces the pH of the soil and coniferous litter, which is often used for mulching by summer residents from SNT next to a pine forest.

Needle litter as mulch

Such a mulch is durable, perfectly retains moisture in the soil after watering and prevents the growth of weeds. This material is an excellent choice for perennial plants that prefer acidic soil – bergenia, rhododendron, hydrangea, viburnum, cotoneaster and any conifers planted in the backyard.

10. Cone

If you spend more free time and instead of litter of needles collect pine or spruce cones in the forest, you can transform your summer cottage beyond recognition. Such a durable mulch material, laid out in a dense layer in the near-trunk circles of trees, shrubs and perennial flowers, will look incredibly impressive.

Mulch made from cones is durable and very decorative.

It will take many years for the cones to completely rot, so efforts to collect such decorative mulch will pay off with interest: the plants will be protected from drought in summer and from frost in winter.

11. Humus and compost

Quite often, summer residents use humus and compost for mulching beds. Such organic matter has excellent thermal insulation properties, so neither overheating nor overcooling is harmful to cultivated plants. The soil under such a layer of mulch does not suffer from weathering and drying out.

Manure is one of the most common types of organic mulch.

Humus and compost are a favorite delicacy of earthworms, so such organic matter is primarily processed by them, and their layer needs to be updated much more often.

12. Peat

Peat does not lag behind in popularity compared to other organic materials – the mulch from this natural product is excellent. Due to its porous structure, peat effectively retains moisture in the soil and allows the gardener to reduce the number of waterings and reliably protects the root system of plants from temperature changes.

Peat is great for mulching

13. Newspapers

Some clever summer residents have even adapted waste paper for mulching – newspapers and magazines that have long since been read and are unnecessarily gathering dust on the mezzanines. Ink ending up in the soil after this mulch has rotted casts doubt on the sustainability of this approach. And the durability of paper products leaves much to be desired: the soil in the beds should be covered with newspapers in several layers so that they last until the end of the season. However, it is impossible not to mention such a lifehack)) Some summer residents mulch the beds with newspapers. Photo from glenns-garden.com

14. Cardboard

Cardboard has gained much more recognition among gardeners: some of them specially collect abandoned boxes on the city streets and bring this stuff to the dacha. Such an original mulch is denser and more reliable, but at the end of the season it invariably “sags” from moisture and needs updating. Covering the beds with “fresh” cardboard is rather inconvenient, so this material is more suitable for covering garden paths: cardboard mulch drowns out weeds and leaves clean shoes even in rainy weather.

Cardboard bed. Photo from photoshare.ru

Organic mulch is amazing in its variety. Having decided to facilitate your work at your summer cottage, you can certainly choose the right option for yourself, depending on what is at hand. And the plants that please you with such a footbed will certainly thank you with lush flowering and lush fruiting.

Dear readers, do you mulch the beds on your site? What materials do you choose for this purpose? Let us know in the comments about your experience with this or any other type of organic mulch – its pros and cons.

What is mulch: views and uses

Mulching the soil – what is it? The agrotechnical technique in the eco-soil and in the classic garden allows you to maintain moisture and increase productivity by 30-40%.

The importance of the procedure when covering the top layer of soil with special materials – organic, compost, films. Natural components are used separately or combined, mixed with nitrogen top dressing.

Basics of mulching

What does it mean in agriculture to mulch the soil? This is to cover the surface of the beds from heat and cold from pests and pathogens. To do this, use natural or synthetic components.

The main task of mulch is to optimize air and water regimes.

There are 2 types of mulch – organic and inorganic.

Mulching Bio, what kind of cultivation is that? It involves the use of natural decaying substances to protect and increase fertility. As a coating, you can prepare:

• Applied and crushed weeds are necessarily seedless, especially when it comes to herbs like Wheatflow, a fire. And slanted dried hay.
• Mussel from sunflower seeds, rice, buckwheat.
• wood shavings, sawdust.
• fallen leaves.
• Earth branches, small shrubs of shrubs, trees.

Inorganic mulching is stepping over the surface of areas with artificial components. Materials are used:

cover	Decorative
The film is colored and black	pebbles
Lutrasil	marble crumbs
Spanbond	color sets
Spanbel	Keramzit
Agrotkan, Agrofibre	stones

Where to get mulch for soil

As mulching products you can use the most diverse raw materials that are available.

The following varieties are produced in summer:

• Subaned and crushed difficulties – fatselia, vika, mustard, cereal crops.
• The tops and leaves of plants using S-4 photosynthesis, distinguished by an abundance of green matter. This is the sunflower, Jerusalem artichoke.
• Small lawn, meadow grass with a high content of triad of important minerals – nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium.
• Needles, Christmas trees, lark, which have a strong protective effect, especially against snails. They are typed into forests, they try not to harm the natural throw.
• Dry coffee and tea thrown out of the coffee houses in big bags, depending on the Starbax.
• Sunflower bowl, scales made from different grains. Rich in potassium, magnesium, nitrogen components. You can take them to the centers of growing mushrooms.
• Seaweed, particularly valuable cover and fertilizer in coastal conditions.
• Grilled crust from trees.

For protection of vegetable beds, autumn mulch is harvested with the onset of autumn:

• leaf opad;
• dried hay and straw; and compost;
• processed weeds;
• sawdust and chips.

To mulch trees and shrubs, they use:

• the ramifications of the raspberry, the vineyard, the litter of bushes and trees;
• nut and chestnut shells;
• leaves of park and garden zones;
• bark and chips;
• crushed reed.

Slugs prefer to settle in the foliage, they are not used for strawberries and strawberries.

Paper, cardboard is productively covered with paths and gears. Used for maximum moisture in drying areas in the heat. Do not use newspapers, magazines (due to the content of Lead).

Methods and features of using mulch

Mulch is made in sheltered and open areas throughout the land season. Start in early spring and end with frosts in the fall.

Mulch slows down the warming of the soil, therefore on the beds with early plants – strawberries, radishes, materials when the soil is warmed up to 12 degrees.

For the fastest warming of the soil surface before planting, mulch is brought in for a while, put in compost, or get close to use in a couple of weeks.

You can mulch in 2 ways:

• Pour the material in layers. Use all kinds of organic pieces.
• Cover the surface. Apply film, roofing material, other artificial floor surfaces.

Organic raw materials are kept on the beds throughout the winter. Here settled worms, soil organisms are actively propagated, turning mulch into humus.

Secrets On How To Use Mulch Properly:

• The thickness of the layers can vary from 3 to 8 cm in summer. For the winter period, shelters produce covers of up to 15 cm. For tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, the optimal depth should be 8-10 cm. For radishes, carrots, beets, celery create a layer of 4-5 cm. For dill, parsley, green salads mulch by 3 cm.
• The shaded areas are more subtle, for brightly lit areas create a thicker layer.
• During the season, mulch is placed several times, different substances alternate to stimulate decomposition.
• It is best to lay the first soil after rain or watering after 4-6 hours. The earth is prefabricated by a plane cutter.
• Small gaps are left between the coating and the plant stems for air circulation. This is a particularly important condition for shrubs and fruit trees.
• Finely chopped mulch is preferable to large debris. It turns into humus faster, pathogens and pests are less likely to start in it.
• It is undesirable to trample mulch.

The thickness of the layer should not exceed 3-4 cm on heavy earthenware with close proximity to groundwater in swampy areas. This can lead to decay.

If weeding is used, then mowing is carried out several times, necessarily before flowering and ripening of seeds. Otherwise, weeds will begin to actively identify and multiply on the beds.

Mulch the soil

sawdust

The valuable property of sawdust is to scare away the pests such as slugs, mosquitoes, flies, ticks. Open needle books prevent the reproduction of pathogens.

They are used on lean, impoverished soils. Before entering, mixed with humus or manure. Optionally add nitrogen drugs and resins.

This prevents the debate and loss of nutrient components, plant growth is not suspended.

Using the type of plants such sawdust use:

A variety of sawdust	where they use
Big	Trees, raspberries, currants, strawberries
Small	Young sprouts of carrots, beets, garlic, onions
needle	carrots, garlic
Fresh	Strawberry and Strawberry Beet
Half over the gray-brown color	Vegetable plants, flower s-tematis, roses

The thickness of the layer for bulbous plants within 6 cm. Under carrots, strawberries are poured with sawdust to 4-5 cm.

What are the subtleties of using sawdust along Kuznetsov:

• Use a layer of sawdust 7-8 cm to cover the aisles.
• Direct beds are covered with bio compost.
• Sawing agents are used in the berry, which are regularly sprinkled.
• It is useful to apply sawdust to manure to preserve moisture.

Dressers and greenhouses are emulated with sawdust. For this, the compost is prepared according to this recipe:

• 200 kg of sawdust.
• 50 kg of rotted manure.
• 100 kg shredded weeds or groups.
• 30 kg waste from fruit and vegetables.

Such a composition from the autumn season The beds.

hay

Hay one of their best mulches. It is estimated for a high level of nitrogen, carbon compounds. Lawn, meadow grass is used.

Thanks to the slight coloring and the longer decomposition, it is suitable for cultures such as:

• Potato;
• Pumpkin;
• Cabbage;
• Strawberry.

It keeps the humidity and coolness of the soil well. Creates ideal conditions for the development of tomato roots and cucumbers. The sun rays reflect in the heat.

Under high plants, layer 10-15 cm in one layer, the thickness is reduced to 5 cm after a few months. You can water 2-3 times a season.

bark

Among the advantages of the cortex:

• The content of phytoncides that protect against mushrooms, bacteria, fist.
• Nemotacid properties, nematodes are not divided into the beds, with parasites that are extremely difficult to fight.
• Creation of conditions for mass reproduction of Worms-Pour.

Mulch usually 1 times in 2-3 years.

Mulch from a pine bark from all types distinguishes the longest lifespan, which has not monitored over 5-6 years. The larch material is also suitable for decoration and prevents nitrogen loss.

The mulch bark was removed from trees not more than 5-6 months ago. Bound with scissors or a seeder. The size of the parts should not be more than 1 cm.

To disinfect the material, the bark is cooked for 10-15 minutes. Or they are calculated in an oven for up to 20 minutes at a temperature of no more than 70 degrees.

Do not use the bark:

• of destroyed old trees;
• infected with fungal disputes.

Caution works with OAK due to the high content of tannins.

The time in May can choose to mulate the soil when the earth is heated up to 14-16 degrees. Work will also be made in autumn in the early September.

The thickness of the layers varies within 2-8 cm taking into account the density:

1. on clay and sound 2-3 cm;
2. 6-7 cm on the sand;
3. 5-6 cm on a relaxed light floor.

peat

For peat mules, only lowlands from flowing mosses and owls as well as intermediate material are used.

Among the advantages of the peat substrate:

• Has the slightest acid;
• Contains organic substances up to 70%;
• rich in gums, minerals – iron, calcium, magnesium;
• serves as a subtract for young plants;
• gives porosity;
• Improves water permeability and ventilation.

The humus content in peat varies in the range of 40 to 60%, pH 5.5-7.0. Enrichment and adapts the soil:

• sandy;
• loamy;
• Tone are heavy.

It has a loose structure. You can sprinkle directly on the beds. Does not lead to overfeeding.

Green residues of plants

The tops and leaves of garden plants, weeds can also be business in business. Free organic organic organic plants form a stable layer of humus.

Green mulch attracts nitrogen and floor mushrooms. The crushed tomato leaves and stems frighten cabbage white.

• All green weeds – dandelion, clover, nettles, swans;
• Tops of carrots, beets, corn, radishes;
• Small lawn grass.

It is undesirable to use freshly cut raw materials because the high risk of a debate or the invasion of pests. It should be dried and then only created under plants.

What advantage brings

The covering of the soil is comparable to the natural cycle. Herbs and leaves dry and cover the roots and stems of plants.

If you mulch the floor properly, it gives:

• Moisture retention in layers of the earth and prevent excessive sweat.
• Protection of root systems from overheating in the heat and freezing in winter frosts. Mulch works like air conditioning.
• Creation of an ideal pH value for any kind of culture.
• Avoidance of washing out and weathering of user elements by 70 %.
• Provision of additional food for floor dwellers – worms, bacteria, fungi.
• Increasing fertility and building a humus layer.
• Natural fighting pests and their larvae.
• Stop the growth of weeds.
• Conservation of the harvest in its pure form – strawberries, cucumbers, zucchini. As well as the prevention of caries.
• Give the beds and flower beds an aesthetically beautiful look.

Conclusion

Mulchen not only keeps moisture, but also supplies the plants quickly with nutrients. Effectively improves the soil structure and balance.

Mulched plants develop faster and better, are less susceptible to diseases and pests. The productivity of the cultures, raw material and taste qualities of a harvest increase.

There are many ways to get mulch, you can use it all season.

Edito r-i n-chief and author of the site. Agronom vegetarians from training, graduate of the agricultural university of the Moscow agricultural academy. K. A. Timiryazev in 2010

I like experienced gardening and journalism. I like to read classics, my favorite author is F. M. Dostojewski. I dream of becoming director of a large agricultural company