NOT FOUND: plant lady1.jpgHello everyone. I hope everybody had an awesome, meaningful Thanksgiving and was able to make some unforgettable memories and acquire some unforgettable recipes to share with me later.
Mulching is our topic this month by request of you. Yes you! What exactly is mulch? Some of us think of bark or hay as mulch. Others use the word mulch when they compost materials and mix it in with the soil as an amendment. Although the first thought is aesthetic, for the most part, it does its job to insulate, eventually breaking down to become dirt food.
The second thought of composted mulch delivers available nutrients more readily. I’ll explain. One use of mulch is applying any material to the soil surface in the attempt to protect the soil and add aesthetic value. Last month, I explained in depth the importance of soil and how taken for granted it is. Check it out online for a refresher at www.northsacnews.com. I’ll continue with the importance of protecting it by applying mulch. bark, straw, coco shells, etc. These are types of mulch that can be applied now and protect the soil and root system by insulating them through the harsh extremes of winter. Protecting the soil from the wind and cold will prevent it from drying out, crusting and compacting. Remember, compacted soil can’t drain or breathe and is not preferred by roots or adequate for their survival. Bark, pine needles, and straw, etc, will eventually break down, thus adding depth to your soil bed. Remember what dirt is made of. Think about it. Mulch. Nature’s own leaves, twigs, bark, fallen fruit, dead trees, dead animals, their poop, etc – it all decomposes, compacts and goes straight down. Voila. Soil! Nobody goes out and rakes the fields, forests, meadows, however, all those places have soil floors. These naturally mulched areas are also where the pristine soil can be found. Dark brown, crumbly, rich in nutrients, full of worms and their doo-doo.
NOT FOUND: plant lady2.jpgHere in town though, most don’t have all of that occurring enough naturally. So, we need to apply it ourselves in hopes of duplicating nature. A composted mulch (already broken down) mixed in with inadequate soils basically “pimps your soil,” turning its properties around when time is of the essence. Gromulch is a soil product you can use when planting by mixing it in with the native soil if the native soil is poor in health. It is made up of materials already composted and delivers immediately. It can also be applied to the surface of established plants and allowed to leach down into the soil to the root system. That is the different kind of mulch we’ve been speaking of. Surface mulch also prevents upheaving when the soil thaws.
When we have planted in the fall, we need to immediately top mulch to keep the soil warm longer for the roots to have a chance to establish. Once established, they can suck up all the water and nutrients needed for sustenance in dormancy, like a bear before it enters into the hibernation. Once the soil freezes and hardens, the roots can’t really receive something that is not there and so they have to wait until the ground thaws and softens in the spring. Many perennials and bulbs suffer from upheaving basically when the ground thaws too quickly and they get pushed upward, searching for water. This leaves them susceptible to the environment, insects and disease. Mulching helps the soil stay soft while frozen for chilling hours and keeps it from thawing too quickly.
So, mulch for the obvious reasons and it being pretty, but be aware that even in areas where nobody sees the soil, it still needs protection. Remember that when you mulch over bulbs and perennials, you need to thin it or remove it come spring. Keep a couple of inches of clearance from branches or trunks in order not to cause bark decay or encourage “feeding friends” to come and find refuge so close to the food supply in the trunk and root zone.
Until next month, may you all have a very merry Christmas and enjoy the true spirit and reason for the season. May God bless you all.
Your Plant Lady