Mulching now?

I just want to get it right as I've spent a lot of hours digging the beds over, adding manure and replanting. I want to give the beds the best chance.

Seems my 'Compo-esque' father might be on to something!

 

I'm sure you Dad knows what he's talking about, it more a case of whether the effects will cause a problem in the area you want to mulch.

For instance, you would never mulch frosted ground, Would you???

But if you covered frosted ground with black polythene it would have an entirely different effect.

 

I had a quick peak in an Rhs book while I was out, and it talked about 'light' mulches and 'dark' mulches. I wonder what an example of each would be, it didn't elaborate.

Dark mulches store heat by day and radiate heat at night - so can be applied earler in season. Light mulches reflect heat, making it essential not to put it on cold soil. Apparently!

 

I can only assume they are referring to the colour as white tends to reflect sunlight and black absorbs it.
I wonder if they are actually referring to polythene rather than just an organic mulch of compost, bark etc.

 

No it was talking about bark etc

Bit baffling

 

you got me stumped

How about gravel mulches ?

The RHS,......... they're a dodgy bunch.:D

 

Yes... I was wondering about a 'light' mulch being rice or couscous! As opposed to a dark mulch of Lindt 70% chocolate? I'd be weeding at close quarters

 

I wouldn't see any problem in waiting for a bit - for the ground to heat up. We will be having April showers soon - so I don't think there will be a shortage of rain. :D

 

The "light" and "dark" may refer to the thickness of the mulch rather than its colour.

You can apply a thin mulch if you just want to enrich the soil and improve its structure. But if you want to supress weeds, it needs to be at least 6 inches thick to make sure all light is excluded.

 

Yeah, I know Marley, just kidding.

I wont tell anyone.:D:wink: