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Garden Gate:  mulching?  |
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SheilaC
True Blue Farmgirl
1948 Posts
Sheila
Vermont
USA
1948 Posts |
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gramadinah
True Blue Farmgirl
3557 Posts
Diana
Orofino
ID
USA
3557 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 09 2013 : 7:49:45 PM
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I have put 3-5 pages of newspaper and then 2-3 inches of grass clippings I have loved the outcome less weeds less water and better growth.
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
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MayFay
True Blue Farmgirl
73 Posts
Stephanie
MO
USA
73 Posts |
Posted - Jun 10 2013 : 9:09:04 PM
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I like to use deep straw mulch. Grass clippings are good for smaller plants, but I usually use only straw these days. Twelve inches thick is my preferred depth. I start less thick and add as the plants grow. Few weeds can get through at that depth, the soil stays cooler, and if it rains reasonably often, I only water when sprouting newly planted seeds. I feel I have less garden pests when I mulch, as well. I leave a "well" around each plant to make it easy to add liquid fertilizer during growth. For something small like lettuce, I make close rows and keep the straw up against the outer rows.
Farmgirl Sister #5093 |
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - Jun 11 2013 : 03:04:40 AM
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I use straw mulch, too, but only about 3 - 4 inches, and only on part of my garden for squash, brassicas, potatoes and melons. I love it especially because we can turn it under when the garden goes to sleep and it really helps build up the soil. The only problem I've found with it is that last year, it served as a "safe haven" for squash bugs (Rrrrrr!), but this year, I'm hoping that more vigorous companion planting with herbs and flowers will help with that problem. The black sheet mulch works much better for us with the tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, etc., and then I cover that with grass clippings to help keep in the moisture. I'm not exactly sure why it works better, but I'm thinking it is partly because it really keeps weeds at bay and it also really keeps the soil warm, which those plants really need. I kind of do what Stephanie does with the lettuce, too. I just let the lettuce grow tightly, but don't really mulch the lettuce. If I'm interplanting it with other plants, then you'll see it coming up through whatever mulch is in that section of the garden, but other than that, the small section of lettuce just grows tightly compact.
Hope this helps!
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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lovinRchickens
True Blue Farmgirl
3440 Posts
Kelly
Pipe Creek
Texas
USA
3440 Posts |
Posted - Jun 11 2013 : 08:49:38 AM
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I use chicken bedding mixed with mulched trimmed up tree parts from my yard. Always being sure to have green leaves included with a lot of various sized pieces of bark to allow the soil to breathe. Weeds do come up from time to time but are SO easy to pull. And I just lay them back on top of the bark to decompose.
Farmgirl #5111
Blessings
~Kelly~ |
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Cindy Lou
True Blue Farmgirl
2325 Posts
Susan
Lonsdale
MN
USA
2325 Posts |
Posted - Jun 11 2013 : 08:53:56 AM
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Straw can be more likely to produce fungus growth, so for some plants, like our tomatoes we seem to have better luck using a wood bark mulch.
Susan
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
Mary Oliver |
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MayFay
True Blue Farmgirl
73 Posts
Stephanie
MO
USA
73 Posts |
Posted - Jun 11 2013 : 10:51:37 AM
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Also, it's important to remember that what works best varies by where you live. Checking with a local organic gardeners' group might be a good thing, too.
Farmgirl Sister #5093 |
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Garden Gate: mulching? |
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mulching?
