08/30/2000 Env Bd Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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M U 1 C H 1..N G wait In your backyard Mulching involves placing a layer of organic materi- al around plants.As mulch decomposes, it adds organic matter to the soil.This provides important nutrients for plants and an ideal environment for earthworms and other organisms that help enrich the soil. Mulching can recycle yard wastes and improve your soil. Mulch protects soil from erosion, prevents weed growth, conserves soil moisture, stabilizes soil temperature, reduces compaction, and keeps clean and dry any fruit or vegetable that touches the ground. Mulch materials The best place to look for mulch materials is in your own yard. Grass clippings and leaves work well for mulching if they are dry and weed free. Avoid adding clip - pings to your vegetable garden from lawns that have been treated with weed killer within the last two mowings. If you live near farming areas, you may be able to get old hay from a farmer or feed store. Compost makes an excellent organic mulch material. It adds nutrients to the soil and has a natural appearance.Wood chips and bark work well around trees and shrubs and make attrac- tive walkways through .gardens. Applying mulch Apply mulch when plants are established and soil is warm. First, water your garden well.Then place a layer of mulch around the plants.Thickness of the mulch layer varies for each material: Dry grass clippings Shredded hardwood mulch, straw, or wood chips .. Compost Dry leaves 20 2 inches 2 to 4 inches 3 to 4 inches 6 inches DA You will help insulate the root zone and lower evaporation rates if you liberally apply mulch. Be careful not to smother the plants. As the mulch breaks down, add more material to the top throughout the growing season. After harvest, work the mulch into the soil to integrate the organic matter, or leave it on the surface to decay naturally and be carried into the soil by earthworms. Leaving the previous year's crop stubble tt'i ' yik°'�37r z on the soil surface is called conservation tillage. This practice_ helps keep wind from blowing soil particles and helps stop rain from washing soil away. Also, research is showing that leaving crop residues helps hold carbon in the soil and aids in reducing greenhouse gases. This practice is often used in combination with other conservation measures such as wind strips or contour farming Gcne Alexander, USDA