More recently, only summer residents of the southern regions were engaged in mulching. With the advent of intense heat, those gardeners who did not do this before thought about it. Mulch - what is it? And what is she for? Let's figure it out.
Protection n och
Under the influence of the sun, wind and rain, uncovered land loses its fertility every year, its structure is destroyed, and a crust forms on the surface. Summer heat overheats and drains the soil, winter cold leads to freezing of the roots of some plants. Mulching protects against these factors.
Mulch - what is it? It covers the ground with various materials that inhibit weed growth. Powerful perennials can sprout through them, but they are easy to weed out with your hands. With such an agrotechnical technique, the necessary moisture is retained in the soil, so watering can be done less frequently.
Soil under an artificial “blanket” heats up less, which favorably affects the growth of roots. In winter, perennials under these conditions do not freeze.
Mulch - what is it? It is a protection against pests and diseases. Some studies prove
that this technique repels moles, protects against onion and carrot flies, nematodes. In addition, the structure of the fertile layer improves, since the humus content in it increases. Earthworms become more active, so the soil becomes loose. Some substances, such as garden compost and rotted manure, additionally feed cultivated crops.
How to make mulch
First, prepare the surface of the earth: remove garbage and weeds. These works are carried out in May. Then sprinkle with complex fertilizer and lightly close it with a rake. After that, on a moist, clean and warm soil, a material containing organic matter is poured with a 5-centimeter layer. The radius of the mulched circle, in the center of which is a plant - 45 cm, in the center of which is a shrub - 75 cm. The layer of substance should not reach the stems and trunks of cultivated crops, as otherwise they may rot.
Under perennial plants, the mulch is not removed for the next year: just lay a new layer. Under annual crops, the substances are buried in the soil or placed in a compost heap for processing by worms.
Materials for Mulch
Organic mulch is popular among gardeners - manure, compost that feed plants. In addition to them, it is used:
- Peat - preserves soil moisture, protects from the sun. It is used for mulching garlic during autumn planting, as well as for seeds of vegetable plants.
- Chips and bark - provides a beautiful appearance. Suitable for fruit crops.
- Needles of pine or spruce - prevents the reproduction of gray rot. Used for wild strawberries.
- Mowed grass - used for vegetable beds, but it needs to be dried in the sun.
- Siderata - used for vegetable crops. They are the green mass of plants that are grown for fertilizer. It is better to mix them with disk implements with an upper earthen layer.
- Sawdust is good for any plant except annual vegetables. They are introduced with ash and nitrogen fertilizers.
- Straw cutting - protects the soil, but contains weed seeds. With it, at the same time you need to make nitrogen fertilizers.
We answered the question: "Mulch - what is it?" This agricultural technique is gradually replacing the digging of garden plots. Its advantages are a small complexity, ensuring greater germination and a high yield, preservation of the root system of perennial crops.