Early and unexpected frosts pose the most serious danger to garden plants, since they have not yet had time to adapt to low temperatures and are easily damaged. But it’s very easy to insure yourself against such unpleasant surprises - just mulch the trees and bushes in your garden in the fall.
Plant roots are particularly affected by frost. To protect the soil in tree trunk circles, the soil must be shallowly dug and mulched. For this purpose, both organic and inorganic materials are used.
The former include humus, compost, spruce and pine, the latter, in turn, include crushed stone, expanded clay, gravel, etc. The undeniable advantage of organic is that over time it rots, mixes with the soil and not only protects, but also nourishes the plantings.
After mulching, a mound should appear around the trunk, but not so high. This is an example of a procedure being performed incorrectly.
However, the use of acidic peat and pine needles provokes an increase in the acidity of garden soil. Therefore, these substrates are mainly used to mulch trees and shrubs, which grow better in slightly acidic or even acidic soil.
Inorganic materials are more durable, but some of them, similar to organics, have a significant impact on soil acidity, its mechanical and chemical composition. For example, it is recommended to cover the soil in rock gardens and rockeries with a layer of gravel and crushed limestone, because plants that prefer an alkaline environment are most often cultivated in them.
The mulching technology itself garden trees and bushes is carried out as follows:
- A circle is drawn around the trunk of a tree or bush, the diameter of which is equal to half or two thirds of the diameter of its crown.
- then the turf and weeds are removed from the inner part of the circle, and a layer of soil is removed with a depth of 15 to 20 centimeters for shrubs and 20 to 25 centimeters for trees.
- The roots are carefully dug in, and the bottom of the resulting hole is loosened with a pitchfork or.
- the surface of the earth is leveled and compacted a little, and the hole is filled with mulching material (preferably of organic origin).
- last of all, the soil previously selected from the pit is returned to its place.
Please note that for coniferous crops the diameter of the circle should be equal to the diameter of the crown or even larger. The optimal mulch mixture for such plants is their own needles mixed with acidic peat.
Of course, in large gardens It is simply unrealistic to insulate all plants in this way, so I advise you to first protect those varieties and species that are characterized by minimal insulation. In addition, if the soil on your site is light and free of weeds, then there is no need to dig a hole and select soil from it, but just loosen it and sprinkle it with a 15-20-centimeter layer of mulch.
Before the onset of cold weather, every gardener thinks about how to properly prepare their plot for winter. After all, each individual plant needs appropriate care, and its adequate organization is the primary task of the economic farmer. Extremely important role Proper insulation of trees, which may suffer from frost, strong winds and temperature changes, plays a role. Let's talk on- /site/ about how to prepare the tree trunks of fruit trees for the winter, and also answer the question: mulching the soil - what is it?
In order to fruit trees We've successfully survived the winter, there's something we need to do. Trees must be treated with special preventive solutions, the tree trunk area should also be mulched and small fences should be built near the trees. Today the topic of our conversation will be the preparation of the tree trunk circle itself.
Preparing the tree trunk for winter
Before proceeding directly to insulating tree trunks, it is worth eliminating all weeds around them. Next, you need to dig up the soil ten to fifteen centimeters deep, otherwise the weeds may well germinate in the spring. Also, such digging will help destroy the roots that are close to the surface, through which frost can go deeper. Then preventive treatment of tree trunks and skeletal branches with protective solutions is carried out.
Mulching tree trunks
The most effective technique for preserving trees in winter time mulching is considered to be covering the soil surface around plants as the most different materials, which are capable of regulating water and air regimes in the uppermost layers of the soil. In winter, mulch helps reduce the depth of soil freezing. At other times of the year, such material makes it possible to retain moisture, avoid the appearance of weeds, saturate the soil with nutrients and ensure long-term looseness of the soil.
Mulch or mulching material in general can be divided into two main groups, namely permanent and dynamic. The first group can include stone chips, gravel, as well as glass and other similar materials. They, it must be admitted, are characterized by more decorative qualities, although they help somewhat protect the soil. The second group is represented by leaves, peat, hay, bark (ground), sawdust, compost, etc. Such mulch can not only protect the soil, but also effectively enrich it with useful particles.
To cover tree trunk circles Manure and humus can be used around trees. Also, many gardeners use spruce branches and burlap, matting and synthetic covering materials such as lutrasil, spunbond, etc. for this purpose. Many mulching materials can be found on the open market.
Mulching trees for the winter can be done with moss. This material is able to retain heat, so it is often used in intensive gardens. Since moss retains heat, the soil underneath practically does not freeze, which is especially important for all crops with a root system located close to the surface of the earth.
After the earthen circle near the fruit trees is treated with a fungicide, it is covered with a layer of mulch of eight to ten centimeters. If you prefer to use humus and compost, the soil layer can be made thinner - about five to seven centimeters, otherwise such materials may simply rot. During severe frosts, experts strongly advise covering the layer of mulch with spruce branches or sprinkling it with snow to a height of up to one meter.
The most simple material For mulching it is worth recognizing the foliage. It perfectly helps protect perennial trees from frosts down to -30C. It is recommended to cover the root zone with leaves that have fallen from trees (exceptionally healthy ones) to a layer of twenty to thirty centimeters. Another advantage of this material is its ability to retain snow (spruce branches, etc., also have these properties).
To insulate the tree trunk for the winter, materials such as felt, straw or reeds can be used. But they are most often used for wrapping the tree trunk of young fruit trees. Burlap is wound over such material, and such a winding is secured with a rope.
Additional Information
If you are going to mulch the tree trunk with sawdust for the winter, think about their origin. If such material came from furniture shops, then it may contain a lot chemical substances. And sawdust from coniferous trees is a source of many elements that can destroy microflora and suppress the development of other plants.
Do not forget that preparing fruit trees for winter may also include insulating the tree trunks. Such manipulation will be especially necessary for young trees, whose age does not reach five years, because they are still very sensitive to frost. Such crops may need protection with spruce branches, straw, felt, burlap, matting or various synthetic materials - special agrofibre (lutrasil or spabond).
Proper insulation the trunk circle of fruit trees will help such crops survive even the most severe frosts without loss.
The soil around plants should be mulched not only in spring and summer, but also in the fall, so that the crops can safely overwinter.
Mulch laid in the fall rots by spring and promotes better soil warming, as well as rapid germination of crops.
But this is only one of the advantages autumn mulching. What else is mulch useful for?
- The covering material retains moisture well, so plants planted in autumn do not need watering.
- When mulch rots, it forms an additional layer of humus that nourishes the plants.
- Mulched soil suffers less from frost in winter and overheating in spring.
- Covered soil does not become crusty after watering or rain.
- Mulch protects plants from sudden temperature changes.
- In spring, fewer weeds grow on mulched soil.
Beds and tree trunks of plants should be covered with mulch. late autumn, When upper layer The soil will already begin to freeze. This is necessary to prevent rodents from settling in the mulch, looking for a warm place to spend the winter.
It is important to understand that the desired effect of mulch can only be achieved if you do not skimp on the covering material. The thickness of the mulch layer should reach 5-10 cm, otherwise the mulching procedure is in vain.
1. Mulching with conifer bark
Advantages
This is one of the most durable mulching materials. Bark mulch coniferous trees good for its decorative effect, as well as its ability to stimulate plant growth. Tree bark protects the earth from sudden temperature changes. In addition, the soil does not cake after watering, and an earthen crust does not form on it.
Flaws
Perhaps the main disadvantage of using this mulching material is the labor intensity of its preparation. It is recommended to compost the bark of coniferous trees for a year before use. Also, this material is not recommended for mulching tomatoes.
What can be mulched with bark:
- fruit trees and shrubs,
- rhododendrons,
- heather and coniferous crops,
- lingonberries, blueberries.
2. Mulching with compost
Advantages
Compost is one of the most the best materials for mulching the soil. It is completely safe for plants, reduces the likelihood of them becoming infected with diseases, and is also an excellent fertilizer.
Flaws
As with conifer bark, compost must be prepared in advance. Also, more weeds may grow in a bed with compost than in soil covered with other mulch material.
What can be mulched compost:
- vegetable crops planted before winter,
- fruit trees and berry bushes,
- grape.
What is the difference between compost and humus? Compost is an organic mass obtained as a result of the decomposition of plant residues, and humus is rotted (or rather, rotted) manure.
3. Mulching with peat
Advantages
Peat is most often used as mulch in the autumn. Mulching with peat before winter is especially indicated on heavy soil prone to crust formation. In the spring, this covering material promotes rapid warming of the soil, retains moisture and improves the structure of the soil.
Flaws
It is not recommended to mulch the soil with fresh peat, since it contains a high concentration of toxic substances that negatively affect plants. Only certain types of peat can be used for mulching: transitional and lowland.
What can be mulched with peat:
- vegetables and herbs planted before winter.
4. Mulching with humus
Advantages
Mulching the soil with humus is one of the most effective ways increasing its fertility. This mulch is rich useful substances, necessary for good growth plants. In particular, humus saturates the soil with nitrogen, which is very necessary for garden and vegetable crops in the spring.
Flaws
Humus mulch can encourage weed growth.
What is possible mulch with humus:
- trees,
- bushes,
- grape,
- roses and hardy perennials.
5. Mulching with sawdust
Advantages
Sawdust is an excellent fertilizer for any type of soil (especially in combination with compost). They protect the ground from freezing and can enrich even the poorest soil with nutrients.
Flaws
As sawdust decomposes, it can “pull” nitrogen out of the soil and also reduce its fertility. Since sawdust tightly covers the ground from sun rays, in the spring, all kinds of bacteria begin to develop in the top layer of soil.
What is possible mulch with sawdust:
- fruit trees,
- raspberries,
- currants
- blueberries,
- lingonberries,
- grape,
- bulbous flowers,
- winter garden crops.
If possible, use only fresh sawdust. Those that have been stored for a long time, piled up, may stick together. They must be dried thoroughly before use.
6. Mulching with wood chips
Advantages
Wood shavings can be used where the soil is rarely cultivated. Wood shavings store well if kept in a dry place. Like sawdust, shavings repel slugs.
Flaws
Unlike sawdust, shavings take much longer to rot (about 1 year), so they are more often used to cover soil that is practically not dug up (for example, on paths).
What is possible mulch with wood shavings:
- trunk circles of trees.
7. Mulching with straw
Advantages
Straw enriches the soil with nutrients and increases its fertility. And because this mulch material decomposes slowly, it provides long-term protection to mulched crops and keeps the soil warm.
Flaws
Straw mulch can contain weed seeds, and rodents love to make their winter shelters in it.
What is possible mulch with straw:
- basil,
- garlic,
- strawberries,
- blackberries,
- potatoes planted before winter,
- grape.
8. Mulching with pine needles
Advantages
Needles – available material, which can be collected in the forest. Over time, mixing with the soil, such mulch will make it looser and more permeable to water. To mulch plantings on the site, it is best to use pine or spruce litter - they will help prevent the occurrence of gray rot in plants. A dense layer of spruce needles reliably protects the soil from freezing and drying out.
Flaws
Fallen needles release volatile substances that can negatively affect garden crops. Also, needles increase the acidity of the soil, which is very harmful for many plants.
What is possible mulch with pine needles:
- strawberries and small strawberries,
- blueberries,
- lingonberries,
- hydrangea,
- heather,
- rhododendrons,
- camellia and other plants that prefer acidic and slightly acidic soil.
9. Mulching with dry fallen leaves
Advantages
Mulch from dry leaves is a natural covering that nature itself suggested. The leaves decompose quickly and enrich the soil with nutrients. As a result, crops planted in the fall begin to grow faster in the spring.
Flaws
Vegetable crops cannot be mulched with leaf litter. In mild and damp winter conditions, the foliage may begin to rot, which will provoke the proliferation of fungi in the soil.
What is possible mulch with fallen leaves:
- fruit trees and berry bushes.
10. Mulching with pine nut shells
Advantages
Pine nut shell mulch is not only natural, but also very durable. It perfectly retains moisture in the soil, protects plantings from weeds and looks quite decorative. In addition, a good layer of shell stimulates the formation of beneficial microflora in the soil. In winter, pine nut shells prevent the soil from freezing. In addition, such mulching material is an excellent antiseptic.
Flaws
High price. To mulch even a small area of soil, you will have to spend a lot of money. Also, nut shells can attract rodents, which can significantly damage plants in the ground.
What is possible mulch with pine nut shells:
- perennial flowers,
- ornamental trees and shrubs,
- coniferous plants.
As you can see, there are quite a lot of mulch options, so every gardener and gardener will be able to mulch the plantings before harsh winter. You just need to choose the type of mulch that suits you best.
In order for trees to grow quickly, be strong and tall, they need care. This applies to both decorative and fruit species. If earlier the trunk circles around trees were left in the form of open areas of soil, which were dug up and fertilized in the fall and spring or covered with mulch, then in our time an increasing number of summer residents plant flowers, herbs and vegetables on them or sow lawns.
This not only decorates the garden and benefits the trees themselves, but also allows you to save area in favor of other types of plants.
To dig or not to dig?
For many gardeners, the pressing question is how to properly care for fruit trees and when to dig up the ground around them, whether to do it at all, or whether it is better to sow this area with grass. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. Among the advantages of digging are the following:
- There will be fewer pests or they will disappear altogether.
- Since the tree trunk circle of fruit trees expands as they grow, this makes it possible to use this land profitably, for example, to plant a flower garden.
Since there are more disadvantages to digging up soil around trees, many summer residents have abandoned this practice. This is due to the fact that:
- When digging up the soil in the fall, not only pests are destroyed, but also beneficial microorganisms. For example, aerobic bacteria living on the surface require oxygen. When digging, the top layer of soil turns over and they end up underground. Deprived of oxygen, they die, and since it is aerobic bacteria that supply plants with basic nutrients, the trees are thereby deprived of elements important for life.
- When digging there is always a risk of damaging the roots. This is especially true for those that are closer to the surface and receive the necessary nutrition from it.
- Autumn digging reduces the frost resistance of trees, as the soil becomes open to the cold.
Each summer resident decides for himself how to care for his garden, but everything more people tend to believe that the soil around trees is an area that can be used wisely and beneficially both for the plant and for themselves.
Flower beds and beds around trees
In light of the above, gardeners prefer to use tree trunk circles and sow them with either forbs, flowers, or healthy vegetables and spices. This has its advantages:
- Gradually, the untouched soil is enriched by the plants growing on it, which, having outlived their useful life, become natural nutrition for the tree.
- It is especially useful to sow tree trunk circles for additional insulation root system. The roots of the “neighbors” create a kind of cushion that prevents frost from penetrating into the soil.
- In summer, the lawn or flower garden protects the roots from the sun, and the tree needs less watering.
- Tree trunk circles filled with vegetation do not require digging or special weeding, which not only frees you from unnecessary work, but also helps preserve the fertile layer of the soil.
Considering all the advantages, more and more gardeners are using the soil around trees to plant beautiful or useful plants.
It is important to know: plants do not always combine with each other. Before planting something, you need to make sure that the “neighborhood” will be mutually beneficial. This is especially important for fruit trees, since their harvest can be significantly reduced by satellites that will have a depressing effect on them.
Types of tree trunk circles and care for them
The design and care of the soil around the tree begins with its planting. So, when he is 2-3 years old, he is 2 m, by the age of six he reaches 3 m, and by 10-12 - 3.5-4 m. Along with the growth of the crown, its trunk circle grows, the design of which as the tree matures can change.
Soil care depends on how the soil around the seedling looks:
- If the soil remains fallow, then it needs regular weeding and light loosening after each rain or watering. In the presence of heavy soil, autumn digging should be carried out annually, while on loams this can be done once every 2-3 years.
- Although mulching is the best way to conserve moisture, improve soil quality and protect against cold, it is nevertheless considered by many gardeners to be a waste of land space. Mulching methods are described below.
- Decorated tree trunk circles are becoming increasingly popular, as they simplify their care and allow you to create beautiful flower beds, lawns or mini-gardens.
It is important to know: if you plant plants around a tree, you should take into account that its trunk should already be quite high (from 75 cm), and the branches should be raised above the ground.
Materials for decorating tree trunk circles
Long gone are the days when the design of the tree trunk circle consisted only of mulching or “bare” soil. Today landscape designers use natural and artificial materials, flower and herb seeds.
Summer residents are not far behind them and are improving their gardens:
- decorative stone;
- crushed stone and pebbles;
- glass;
- fabrics made of synthetic fiber, for example, agril;
- lawns;
- beds with spices;
- medicinal herbs.
It's important to know: the soil around trees is a usable area when used correctly. What is permissible on large landscaped lawns does not make sense on a plot of 6 acres, where every meter of land counts.
Stone decoration
The use of small pebbles or gravel to decorate tree trunks is especially popular among summer residents who cannot devote much time to their garden. These “helpers” are capable of:
- retain moisture;
- protect roots from hot sun rays and severe frosts;
- prevent weeds from growing;
- keep pests away.
This decor of the tree trunk circle frees the gardener from weeding, loosening and digging up the soil. Stones are a natural material that is durable, does not fly apart from gusts of wind and looks impressive.
Mulching
In regions where rain is rare and frost is not, summer residents use dry manure, straw, peat or leaves with reeds in the form of mulch. There are reasons for this:
- this is a natural fertilizer that is dug up in the spring and gives the roots additional nutrition;
- such mulch warms the soil;
- retains moisture well.
It is important to know: such mulching should be done not only 10-15 cm from the trunk, as many gardeners do, but throughout the entire circle around the trunk.
However, in warmer regions, an increasing number of summer residents prefer not only to mulch the circle of fruit trees, but also to decorate it. Perfect for this Pine cones, For example. They look beautiful, hold heat well, transmit and retain moisture, are not blown away by the wind and do not give weeds a chance to grow through such a barrier.
In any case, the choice of which natural material to use for mulching remains with the summer resident, based on weather conditions and the needs of the tree itself.
Lawn around trees
A beautiful, well-groomed lawn always looks impressive. It is no exception when it covers the trunk circle of an apple tree, for example, or other fruit trees. Owners of large plots can afford this luxury. As the grass grows, it is cut with a lawn mower and removed. As practice has shown, a lawn in tree trunk circles is beautiful decoration, which provides the tree with additional care:
- protects from the sun;
- protects from cold;
- retains moisture well;
- The roots of the grass themselves loosen the soil, and it breathes.
Important to know: the lawn requires ongoing care, otherwise the garden will look overgrown and abandoned. Trees also need regular spring feeding, which is best applied directly under the roots.
Seedling of tree trunk circles with forbs
The lawn is not suitable for the owners of the coveted six acres, so the best solution is to create cultural sod, for which grass seeds are used. It's better to sow perennial herbs, for example, a cereal mixture of meadow fescue (up to 60%) and meadow bluegrass (40%).
As the grass grows, it needs to be mowed and stored under the trees, as this is the best natural fertilizer that frees the gardener from additional organic fertilizers. Such turf serves as a natural “carpet” that protects tree roots from the scorching sun, severe frosts and drought.
Flower garden
Before you start creating a flower garden, spice bed or medicinal herbs, you should find out which plants in the trunk circles will bring the maximum benefit to the tree. For example, the following flowers are combined with an apple tree:
- daisies;
- daffodils;
- lungwort;
- pansies;
- forget-me-nots;
- bells;
- nasturtium;
- periwinkle.
They will not only decorate the tree trunk, but will also have a beneficial effect on the yield of the tree. Among the spices and vegetable crops The apple tree gets along well with:
- dill;
- radishes;
- feather bow;
- salad;
- sorrel;
- basil
Today, cultivating tree trunks is a widespread practice, and not a tribute to fashion. When the land can not only be used wisely, refined and decorated, but also its composition can be improved without much effort, this is a chance to make your site ideal.
About the technique of mulching the trunk circles of fruit trees and berry bushes, vegetable beds, we can say a lot and justifiably, but still experience tells us best ways its application. There are also disadvantages. Let's figure it out.
What agronomic requirements can we make for the mulch that we use for our garden and vegetable crops? Firstly, it should not give free rein to the weeds - endless tedious weeding in tree trunk circles fruit crops, berry bushes and on vegetable beds familiar to all land users. This means that the mulch should be quite dense, but at the same time freely allow atmospheric air to pass through to the roots, root collar and trunk of the plant. At the same time, it should not prevent the release of hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide and other compounds harmful to the plant from the soil. Skilled gardeners know that both the soil itself and the mulch on it must breathe. A good mulch should also provide additional nutrition to the plant and protect it from diseases and weather attacks.
But is there such an ideal mulch in everyday use? I'm guessing it's compost. We have it today - the main thing organic fertilizer. It turns out that you need to prepare compost on your plot of land. There are possibilities for this. But in our SNT only five owners on their land plots composters are noticeable. Other gardeners prefer to throw components suitable for preparing high-quality compost, which is suitable for both fertilizer and mulching, into a landfill, littering the garden, or burn it.
When to prepare the above compost? Best time for this purpose - the days of late spring, summer, early autumn months, when there is still warmth - with it in the compost, the decomposition of plant residues by soil microorganisms and microflora, the processes of mineralization and fermentation, occurs faster.
In conclusion, we list other types of mulch. This is, first of all, straw in a layer of 10-15 cm, which then settles to 4-6 cm. Mulching the trunk circles of trees and shrubs with tops of previously harvested potato varieties. For strawberries, mulching between rows with rotted sawdust, weathered peat, and fallen leaves. “Living mulch” - bentgrass - is also good for tree trunk circles.
I. Krivega
(Gardener No. 25, 2011)
What is mulching
The word “mulch” is translated from English as covering with manure or straw. Mulching is covering the free surface of the soil around plants with a protective organic layer or film. Unfortunately, this technique is rarely used in garden plots, but in vain! Mulch helps retain moisture in the soil, protects it from wind and sun, frees you from weeding, reduces the amount of watering, and will also prevent the surface layer from hardening and crust formation. And last but not least, mulching gives the plantings a beautiful and well-groomed appearance.
What can be used as mulch? The first group of mulching materials is film and fibrous materials. For mulching, use a film 0.03-0.06 mm thick and 100-120 cm wide. Lay the film on the surface of the soil, and sprinkle its edges with earth. Leave 30-50 cm of uncovered soil between the strips of film. Heat-loving crops (cucumbers, tomatoes), as well as all plants in cold summers with little rainfall, grow especially well with this mulching.
It is best to mulch vegetables and strawberries with black perforated film or black fibrous material. Cabbage grows well on mulch white, but for tomatoes the most suitable mulch is red.
The next group is organic materials. Mulching with organic materials benefits all vegetable and ornamental crops. A layer of mulch stimulates the reproduction of earthworms and beneficial soil microflora, which in turn improves the structure of the soil and increases its fertility. Thanks to soil microorganisms within one year of mulching, a layer of humus 0.5 cm thick is formed.
To mulch the garden and vegetable garden, use crushed green fertilizers, residues cultivated plants, weeds (without seeds), grass, hay, straw, manure, leaves, chopped bark and pine cones, mown lawn grass, sawdust, peat, fallen leaves.
Chop up plant residues from the garden before mulching; you can mix them with green fertilizers. This mulch can be used to cover any surface in the garden.
Leaves of trees and shrubs can also be chopped before use, but this is not necessary. Hay (especially meadow hay) is a very valuable raw material for mulch. You can use straw either alone or in combination with other organic materials and semi-rotted manure. But the soil cannot be mulched with rotten straw immediately before sowing, since it contains substances that inhibit plant growth.
Use kitchen waste only after composting. According to the experience of vegetable growers, cake is an ideal mulch for gardens, just cover it with a layer of damp plant material. But the needles are acidic and therefore can be used for plants that prefer acidic soil, such as rhododendrons and heathers. And mulch made from leaves and stems of tomatoes repel cabbage whites.
Paths in the garden are most often lined with sawdust, sprinkled with a layer 5 cm thick. To speed up their decomposition, you can add nitrogen fertilizer (at the rate of 50 g of nitrogen per 1 m2). And small pieces of wood or bark are of high quality and sufficient decorative material for filling permanent paths in the garden or vegetable garden. Under a layer of bark (pieces of wood) you can put a layer of fibrous material, but in no case a film.
When and how to mulch? It’s simple, carry out the first mulching immediately after sowing (planting) the plants, after watering them abundantly. Replenish the mulch layer as it becomes overheated, but not more than once every 2 weeks. If you are mulching crops, then mark the places where seedlings appear with sand or mature compost, and cover the row spaces with a layer of mulch of 2-10 cm, depending on the crop. On clay soils, lay mulch in a layer no thicker than 2 cm and repeat the procedure as necessary (for example, every 2-3 weeks), as rainy weather the lower part of the mulch begins to rot. The results of mulching heavy soils do not appear immediately - only after 2-3 years, when the soil structure has noticeably improved. On light soils and in dry areas, the mulch layer may be greater.
O. Mironova
(Gardener No. 20, 2012)
Mulch and mulching
Mulching is covering the free surface of the soil in the beds, between the rows of strawberries and between the trees with a protective layer of crushed organic materials, as well as film, sand, slag and other similar materials.
Under natural conditions in the forest, the role of mulching materials is played by fallen leaves and pine needles, and in the field by turf, which for many years form a layer of litter that is unique in its capabilities.
And in the garden and vegetable garden you can use many materials as mulch - humus, manure, peat, rotted compost, sawdust, leaves, crushed green fertilizers, straw, plastic film etc. It all depends on your capabilities and views on the need to carry out this procedure on the site.
A good, properly selected mulch will do a lot for you. First of all, it dramatically affects the heat balance of the soil. The soil temperature under mulch is on average 3-4 degrees higher than on open garden bed. At the same time, sharp daily fluctuations in soil temperature are reduced, protecting it from excessive overheating in hot summers and from severe hypothermia in harsh and snowless winters.
And for growing heat-loving crops in cold climates, you need to use only dark-colored mulch, which gives an even more significant effect.
Mulch protects the soil from excessive evaporation of moisture. A soil crust never forms under a layer of any mulch. In addition, mulch protects the soil from erosion by surface water.
And organic mulch, among other things, improves soil structure, provides plants with nutrients, and promotes good development of the root system of plants. In addition, as mulch decomposes, it releases carbon dioxide into the ground layer, which is an additional fertilizer for plants.
Mulching the soil inhibits the growth and development of some pests and diseases. So, sawdust mulch repels slugs, tomato leaf mulch repels cabbage whites, etc.
And yet, with the great multitude important advantages, which mulch has in comparison with the traditional Russian weeding and loosening of the bed, it is very important to choose exactly the type of mulch material that is best suited for the purpose you need.
Mulch from natural material, if applied in a thick enough layer, will quickly suppress the growth of annual weeds with roots located on the soil surface. But before you put such mulch on the soil, you must carefully weed out all the perennial weeds by their roots. Otherwise they are in favorable conditions will grow as luxuriantly as cultivated plants.
Another way to quickly deal with perennial weeds is to cover the ground with a black film with holes, and put mulch from natural material on top. The holes in the film are needed so that the first heavy rain does not wash away the mulch lying on top of the film.
As in any business, when mulching there are rules that must be followed. If you plant in early spring, then you need to wait until the soil warms up and only then mulch it. And when autumn planting On the contrary, the soil must be mulched immediately after planting.
In dry areas, the soil should be mulched as early as possible to completely retain snow and rainwater. On the contrary, in heavily moist areas, you should not rush to mulch so that the soil can dry out.
Now let's talk very briefly about beneficial properties various types mulch in order to better use it on your site.
Manure. Well-rotted manure gradually mixes with the soil and fertilizes it. Even not completely rotted manure (but by no means fresh) serves as an excellent mulch. Fresh manure must be aged for at least three months before use.
Prefabricated compost. It consists of all kinds of plant debris (grass clippings, weeds, wilted flowers), as well as food waste, collected in a heap to rot over several months. In addition to the properties inherent in any mulch, it has the ability to improve the soil, enriching it with nutrients. It should be scattered in a layer of 3-5 cm around the plants and along the rows.
Compost, along with manure, is the best organic mulching material because... beneficial microorganisms contained in it help control soil pathogens. In addition, there is no need to remove compost mulch at the end of the season, because it will rot completely. But it is imperative to ensure that plants that have been treated with herbicides do not end up in the compost.
Conifer needles. The needles are convenient for mulching, decorative, and practically free. It has high physiological activity. Such coniferous covering will not be carried away by the wind. It stays in place well, but tends to acidify the soil. Therefore, it should not be used for mulching crops that do not tolerate high acidity.
By the way, to use pine needles, it is not at all necessary to pick them green; you can completely get by with fallen pine needles, since they do not lose their beneficial properties.
Shredded leaves - This is a suitable “insulating” material for the roots of most crops. They are a nutrient-rich mulch and a source of excellent humus, but they must be chopped. If this is not done, they will dry out and scatter, and in rainy weather they can create a waterproof layer through which moisture cannot penetrate to the roots of the plants.
Shredded bark . This mulch is very attractive in appearance and is suitable both for decoration and for mulching itself. It lasts for a very long time, suppresses the growth of weeds and over time, as it decomposes, enriches the soil with humus. It is advisable to use it to suppress weeds around perennial herbs.
However, the bark contains few nutrients and binds nitrogen found in the soil. Therefore, plants mulched with bark need nitrogen fertilizing. It should also be borne in mind that the bark acidifies the soil and for most crops it is necessary to add additional lime or ash.
Weeds. If there are not enough plant materials for mulching, then for these purposes you can use weeds growing on the site - burdock, horsetail, plantain, dandelion, gooseberry, etc. But at the same time it is necessary that they are pre-wilted and well crushed. Such mulch can also serve as a good top dressing.
It is very effective to add chopped nettle, which repels slugs, and valerian, which attracts earthworms, to such mulch. This mulch retains moisture well, prevents weeds from growing and decomposes: it serves as fertilizer.
Black polyethylene film . This film warms the soil well and suppresses the growth of weeds. It can be placed on the garden bed a few weeks before sowing to warm the soil well.
Plants are planted through holes cut in the film. But this coating must be pressed along the edges with bricks or sprinkled with earth. But it is not advisable to use it for mulching the soil under bushes, because... in this case, their roots will grow too close to the soil surface. Quite often, plastic film is used as a bedding under any other mulch.
At the same time, this film does not allow the earth to breathe and does not allow water to pass through. In addition, ants often settle under it.
Non-woven material . Black non-woven material prevents weed growth. The soil underneath breathes and does not become compacted. An ideal material for mulching, but a little expensive.
Straw. It is a very good mulch, despite the fact that it can easily carry weed seeds from the fields. It is especially good for mulching beds with strawberries.
It is best to lay straw in a layer of up to 10 cm. And if the straw is thoroughly chopped, it will repel slugs and snails very well. When straw rots, it binds nitrogen found in the soil. Therefore, plants mulched with straw need additional nitrogen fertilizing.
Gravel, pebbles, stones . Around tree trunks or potted plants, they are not only decorative, but also help retain moisture. But over time they “go” into the ground, and after some time weeds appear in the spaces between them.
Stones or a layer of pebbles will be more effective means against weeds, if you put a perforated black film under them. Holes in the film will allow rainwater to enter the soil.
Sand retains moisture well and inhibits the growth of weeds. But over time, it mixes with the soil and to maintain its decorative properties it has to be constantly added.
If you have heavy soils in your garden, then it is better to mix organic mulch with river sand. This technique is especially effective on airtight soils (clay, heavy loam).
And when using sawdust or chopped straw as mulch, additional nitrogen fertilizers must be added to the soil to compensate for the loss of nitrogen as a result of their decomposition.
And one last thing. Contrary to popular belief, mulching the soil in the garden and vegetable garden significantly reduces labor costs for its maintenance.
V. G. Shafransky
