Every novice gardener who has heard about soil mulching is interested in what it is and what is mulch for? In short, mulching can be compared to a complex medicine for the earth, which helps retain moisture, promotes self-loosening, normalizes temperature and increases fertility. But the most important thing that mulching gives is an increase in the number of earthworms in the soil, “responsible” for fertility.
Material for soil mulching and what it gives
What is mulching for and what material is suitable for making mulch?
For the normal development of ornamental plants, the condition of the soil is just as important as the selection of healthy planting material. And if so, then we should direct all our efforts to improving the properties of the soil, which should be loose and contain a sufficient amount of moisture.
One of the simple and effective ways to improve soil structure is mulching.
For soil mulching, the material must be organic, and completely human, at hand. Cut turf, coarse compost, sawdust, peat are suitable. The passages made by the worms, as well as the holes formed in the place of rotten blades of grass, aerate the soil no worse than a shovel. You just need to make sure that weed seeds do not get into the mulch.
If compost is used for mulch, it should be coarse. Fallen leaves play the role of not only mulching material, but also fertilizer , a free watering installation. The caked foliage is a very porous material; at night, warm air cools down in its numerous voids, leaving behind dew drops, which gives additional moisture to the plants.
To find out what soil mulching is, the photos presented on this page will help:
What is soil mulching (with photo and video)
If you have ever removed a pile of peat or humus that has been lying for a long time, then you probably paid attention to the many worms swarming between the soil and fertilizer, and also to the fact that the earth itself, previously dense and compacted, became loose due to the numerous moves made worms. Through these tunnels, worms move organic matter deep into the earth, and air also penetrates there. They can be called living plows. They contribute to the enrichment of the soil with air and the formation of humus in it. In the digestive tract of the worm, along with plant residues in the soil, clay particles, soil bacteria and protozoa get into it. There, this heterogeneous material is mixed, crushed and, finally, supplemented by the intestinal microflora of the worm itself.
All these components are also present in the excrement of worms, which can be seen in the form of small lumps near earthen passages. If we take into account that there are many worms in the earth, then the loosening of the soil and its saturation with air are very significant. Approximately 200 earthworms live in one cubic meter of arable land, which are capable of producing from 7.5 to 10 kg of litter land per year.
And in order to increase the number of worms on your site, you need very little – mulch the soil whenever possible with everything that is at hand.
Watch the video “Mulching the soil” and start preparing the necessary material, and if this is not possible, just buy mulch at the gardening store: