In all the wide range of garden operations, there is probably none less understood than winter mulching. 9 out of 10 gardeners continue to use rule-of-thumb practices—some of them actually harmful—with no real knowledge concerning what should be done or how to do it. Testing Of Roses In a Chicago Regional Rose Society survey, in … Read more
The term organic can have many meanings, but we can define it as plant remains for our purpose. Such remains commonly decompose rather quickly, contain considerable amounts of the elements necessary for plant growth, and, if incorporated into the soil after serving their purpose as a mulch, improve the soil structure and add fertility. Benefits … Read more
Mulches, one kind or another, have been used since time immemorial. In some cases, they may have been of value. In others, they may have been of little or no benefit. Many questions arise about the use of mulches and mulching practices. What is a Mulch? Roughly, a mulch may be defined as any protective … Read more
Strawberries benefit from mulching with clean straw. Place, the covering over the plants so it settles to a depth of about 3” inches. If the wind blows strong in winter, hold the mulch with a chicken wire covering. Put mulch on strawberries after the first light frosts in fall, but before severe frosts. Applying mulch … Read more
Twenty-one years ago, I began experimenting with mulches for flowers, root crops, above-ground crops, and fruits. I do not recall why I started working with various mulching materials. Still, I recall discussing mulching, fertilizing, and soils with my next doer neighbor, a canny Scandinavian and topflight gardener. He once made a remark I have remembered … Read more
Does sawdust, marsh hay, and straw make good mulches for strawberries? All are good, but if using sawdust it is advisable to increase the amount of nitrogen in the fertilizer given strawberries for the first few years since the bacteria use up the nitrogen as they break up the mulch.