Mulching with mowed grass is one of many successful moves in agricultural activities. Why such a mulching? Probably, for doubters, two arguments will be enough: cheapness (or rather, free) and benefit (naturalness). Consider each of the arguments in more detail.
1. Cheapness
Why is mowing mowed grass the most profitable? Already if only because you get the necessary material from your site. Mowed grass can and should be left on this site, but you need to do it wisely (we will tell you later how to do it right).
2. Benefits
Coating the soil with grass allows you to retain moisture and useful trace elements. In addition, you create the so-called air cushion, achieving natural temperature control (in hot weather the soil is not so hot, and in frost it does not freeze so much), and you prevent natural erosion. But the main plus is the help of worms and microorganisms, which, feeding on the remnants of organic matter, give out humus in return and improve the structure of the earth. And this, in turn, has a very beneficial effect on both plant development and fertility. Therefore, we can safely say: mulching with mowed grass allows not only to return the impoverished soil to its previous state, but to make it more fertile.
Mulch prevents leaching of fertile layers during prolonged rains, distributes moisture more evenly, prevents weeds from growing rapidly, and reduces the need for fertilizer application, since it is an independent fertilizer in itself. With all this, there is an intensification of the process of assimilation of nutrients by plants, since under the layer of mulch the soil does not compact, which means that the roots are better supplied with oxygen.
As an example, consider mulching potatoes. For the sake of the experiment, part of the garden was planted with potatoes in the usual manner, followed by "usual" care, the second part was "covered" with mowed grass. In the first case, the potatoes often had to be weeded, spud and watered, in the second - only watered. With an equal volume of one-time fertilizer application, mulching allowed not only to get rid of weeding, but also to achieve higher productivity.
Such mulching of raspberries is very appropriate. Since its roots are almost on the surface (on average, at a depth of 20 cm), summer drying and winter freezing without mulching are simply inevitable. And the result - illness, loss of crop and even the death of the bush. Mulching with mowed grass allows you to protect the roots all year round, regardless of the season. With constant, annual mulching, the fertile layer gradually grows, humus reserves increase, fewer shoots are formed, which means it becomes easier to fight the shoot.
If we convinced you, and as the mulching material you decide to choose grass, pay attention to a few rules:
- the mowed grass should be “young”, i.e. without seeds;
- before mulching, the grass needs to be dried: freshly cut greens will lie on the ground in a dense layer and will not let air in, as a result of which a fungus that is difficult to fight can be planted;
- Lay out the mulch on the flower beds and beds only with a thin layer, periodically adding it.
If there is too much grass, leave too much for compost. By mixing the leftovers with bone meal and limestone this year, the next you will get a great organic fertilizer.
Have a good harvest!