Mulching with sawdust increases yield

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Mulching with sawdust is a technique that has long been known to gardeners, "peeped" from nature. In forests, the natural mantle of dead plant materials reliably protects the soil (and, therefore, the roots) from washing out, drying out, and erosion. In addition to sawdust, chips (or pieces of bark), leaves, paper, grass, fine gravel (used more for decoration), film can be used.

Mulching with sawdust is a great way to enrich poor soil on which plants, even forming many ovaries, if they do not die, then lose fruit. A layer of mulch allows the root system to develop, absorbing mineral fertilizers and much-needed moisture in the heat. The surface layer does not harden, which means, among other things, the earth remains loose and the roots can "breathe".

Sawdust mulching is like creating a paradise for soil and surface bacteria. Sheltered from direct sunlight, they absorb a lot of mulch and, processing it, leave fertile soil. In addition, such covering material is a real pantry for soil insects and other organisms,involved in improving soil structure.

Mulching tomatoes with sawdust, for example, is simply necessary in areas that are prone to prolonged droughts. The open ground quickly heats up, and with it the roots of the plant. Frequent watering does not save, and sometimes even harms (especially daytime watering, after which water, seeping through the hot soil, reaches the roots). The only way to save the crop is to cover the ground with mulch.

The second example is mulching strawberries with sawdust. The reception will not only increase the yield, but also keep the berries clean and intact, since they do not touch the ground, which means they do not rot. Yes, and picking such strawberries is much more convenient.

It is probably worth remembering also that mulching with sawdust prevents the earth from overheating in summer and reduces soil freezing in winters

oh. Mulch inhibits (or eliminates) weed growth.

How to properly mulch with sawdust?

Firstly, it is worth remembering the following: a layer of mulch under the berry crop (any) should be permanent. If you do not plan to introduce "chemistry", part of the sawdust is mixed with part of the manure (already rotted). If manure is introduced in autumn (for winter), then the nitrate content in the fruits will not increase.

Secondly, the more fertile the soil, the faster the mulch decomposes. After it, a thin layer of humus forms, accelerating the decomposition of the next layer of mulch. The process of formation of fertile soil is slow, so the results aresee three to four years after the first mulching.

Third, you can't cover

mulch heavy soils in thick layers, otherwise the lower part of the soil will rot, especially in rainy times. The permissible height of the covering material on clay soils is 2 cm.

Fourthly, the first mulching is carried out only in summer (in some regions - in spring), immediately after sowing or planting seedlings. Before this, a good, plentiful watering is necessary. Mulch this time should be thoroughly crushed. Sprouting sites should be marked.

For winter mulching, a mixture of sawdust, crop residues and unripe manure is best suited. The thickness of the layer is determined by the type of soil (up to 5 cm on heavy soils and up to 10 cm on light soils).