MULCHING: WHAT IT IS AND HOW TO DO IT FOR YOUR GARDEN

Also commonly known as mulching, it is a technique that consists of creating a kind of barrier mainly with organic remains to protect the soil of our crops and prevent the appearance of weeds.


Do you want to know more about this ecological technique? Keep reading this GardenWeb article and discover all the benefits that mulching will provide in your garden. In addition, we will also explain how you can do it at home with a simple step-by-step.

What is mulching for - BENEFITS?


As we have advanced, mulching is a technique that farmers are gradually using to protect the soil of the crops from different harmful agents in an ecological way. We say that it is an ecological and natural way since the padding is made with organic matter (although it can also be done with inorganic remains).

Among the benefits that mulching will give you are:


Avoid weeds: being a barrier created with different layers of materials makes it difficult for these annoying vegetables to appear.


Protects the substrate and the "good" microorganisms in our garden: forestry mulching prevents damage to these agents caused by wind, heavy rainfall, or very sudden changes in temperature.


Helps keep our plants healthy: this ecological technique acts as an insulator for vegetables so that the roots stay warm in winter and cool in summer.




It favors water retention: being a kind of barrier, mulching is a technique that provides shade to the soil of our crops, thus helping to maintain its humidity.


Increases soil fertility: by adding organic materials to create this barrier, mulching helps to incorporate these elements in the form of hummus.

How to mulch at home

Now that you know the benefits that this technique will give you, below we will explain how to do it at home. However, it is important that you have organic materials at home such as straw, compost, decomposed manure, leaf mulch, or peat. You can also create the following quilts:


Pine bark mulch (acidifies and protects the soil)

Mulch from dry grass clippings

A mulch of wood chips and bark (absorbs nitrogen from the soil)

Step by step to make a quilt

1. First, you will have to remove the accumulated weeds in the garden and then decompress the soil with a hoe. In this way, the materials will be able to penetrate better into the earth.

2. Now add the organic material you have chosen and spread it on the ground until it forms a layer 10/15 cm thick.

3. Now add microorganisms such as worms to help break down organic materials and promote the absorption of nutrients.

4. Then you will have to add the specific nutrients that the plants in your garden need.

5. Once these steps are done, you will have to mix and bury the microorganisms and the compost chosen for the mulch with a rake. Finally, water your crop.

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