Mulch is a time-tested agrotechnical technique that allows you to save plants from excessively scorching sun or, conversely, frost. The word literally translates as “shelter”. Despite the fact that this is a fairly common way to preserve the harvest, not everyone knows how to use it correctly. Let’s consider the features of mulching the soil in the garden before planting.
Choice of mulching
In order to use this method as effectively as possible, you need to choose a suitable mulch. Traditional mulching is used everywhere – in fact, it is ordinary loosening. In this way, weeds are destroyed, and the soil itself is saturated with oxygen.
- Straw, sawdust, grass clippings, etc. are used for organic mulching. This helps to keep warm in winter and shade in summer.
- For inorganic mulch, sand or gravel is added to the soil – to suppress the growth of weeds and protect from the sun.
How to use organic mulch
With illiterate layout, mowed hay or grass can cause serious damage to the garden. If you spread too much mulch, it will rot and mold during heavy rains, which will have a bad effect on the plants. The recommended layer is 5-7 cm.
Inorganic soil cover
For this, stones or sand are used – they slow down the growth of weeds, and also decorate the landscape as a path, path, fence for flower beds. It is necessary to observe precautionary measures – if you add too much of them each season, the area will lose fertility and turn into a desert.
Use of film for mulching
This is the most modern way of covering the surface. Studies have shown that the use of such a film increases the yield of zucchini and cucumbers by 30%.
An opaque black film is also used – young seedlings develop well under it.
Tips for staying silent
- Time of mulching
It is held no more than twice a year – in spring and autumn. Autumn processing is carried out after the entire harvest has been fully harvested. The best time is the beginning or middle of October, when microorganisms are not as active as in summer. In the spring, it is recommended to start covering the ground when the soil has warmed up to 12-14 degrees.
- A layer of shelter
You cannot cover the roots of the plant with too high a layer of sawdust or peat – then it will not have enough oxygen, and the seedling will develop poorly. Before covering the soil with a new layer, you need to carefully remove the old mulch, otherwise it will not warm up well.
- Use of grass and straw
Before adding rotted grass to the soil, it must be crushed. Thus, additional moisture will reach the seedlings, and when the moldy remains rot, new microelements and useful substances will be added.
- Impact on pests
Scientists have proven that the number of Colorado beetles on potato beds decreases several times after mulching. To completely get rid of the pest, it is recommended to use 8-10 cm.
Thus, adding mulch to the soil will increase yield and allow you to keep healthy seedlings. This is convincingly proven by many years of experience using this technique.