Mulch - what is it? We will understand

Until recently, only the summer residents were engaged in mulching. With the arrival of a strong heat, those gardeners who had not done this before began to think about it. Mulch - what is it? And what is it for? Let's figure it out.

Ward protection

Under the influence of the sun, wind and rain, uncovered land loses fertility every year, its structure collapses, and a crust forms on the surface. Summer heat overheats and withers the ground, winter cold leads to the freezing of the roots of some plants. These factors are protected by mulching.

Mulch - what is it? This is the covering of the earth with various materials that suppress the growth of weeds. Through them can grow powerful perennial plants, but they can easily be weeded by hand. With this agrotechnical technique, the soil retains the necessary moisture, so it can be watered less often.

The soil under the artificial "blanket" is heated less, which favorably affects the growth of the roots. In winter, perennials in such conditions do not freeze.

Mulch - what is it? This is 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 it increases the content of humus. Earthworms are becoming more active, so the soil becomes loose. Some substances, such as garden compost and overgrazed manure, additionally nourish the cultivated crops.

How to make mulch

First, prepare the surface of the earth: remove debris and weeds. These works are held in May. Then sprinkle with a complex fertilizer and lightly seal it with rakes. After that, a wet, clean and warm soil is poured with a 5-cm layer of material containing organic. The radius of the mulched circle, in the center of which the plant is 45 cm, in the center of which the shrub is 75 cm. The layer of matter should not reach the stems and trunks of cultivated crops a little, since otherwise they can rot.

Under perennial plants mulch is not removed for the next year: just lay a new layer. Under one-year crops, substances are buried in the soil or placed in a compost pile for processing by worms.

Materials for mulch

Organic mulch is popular with gardeners - manure, compost, which feed plants. In addition, they use:

• 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 reproduction of gray rot. It is used for strawberries.
• Mowing grass - used for vegetable beds, but it must be dried in the sun.
• Ciderates are used for vegetable crops. They represent the green mass of plants that are grown for fertilization. They are better mixed with disk implements with the upper earthen layer.
• Sawdust - good for any plants, except for annual vegetables. They are introduced with ash and nitrogen fertilizers.
• Straw cutting - provides soil protection, but contains weed seeds. With it you also need to make nitrogen fertilizer.

We answered the question: "Mulch - what is it?" This agrotechnical technique gradually replaces the digging of garden areas. Its advantages are a little laboriousness, ensuring greater germination and high yield, preservation of the root system of perennial crops.