Mulching, Not for the Vain

I have never been a fan of mulching ... simply for reasons of aesthetics (I know, how vain!). When we first started out with our new polytunnel in March I had no idea how much of our time would be consumed with endless daily weeding. Eight weeks later, mulching was becoming an ever more attractive option. We eventually put down the sheets of cardboard, and the hours of weeding were immediately whittled down to insignificance. It hasn't caused any trouble with slugs, and I shall be interested to see next year if there is any increase in the slug population as a result of providing them with luxury accommodation under our mulching!

Putting the cardboard down is quite tricky over already established plants! I have since planted through cardboard and that was really very easy. Infact, I loved the fact that I could mark out with a pen and tape measure on the board where the holes would go, and write what plants are to go where. Slicing through with a stanley knife is easy. I find if I cut out a disc shape, then plant the seedling, I can replace the disc about the base of the plant ... just make a slit to the middle, in the centre slice a cross to allow for the plants stem to increase in width. Try not to cut through your seep hoses under the cardboard (she said with experience!). Bye Bye weeds.

Comments

[C4G]

You use wool don't you? I use scrap wool waste and unusable wool that gets skirted from raw fleece to be spun. It is better than paper or cardboard in the sense that it will (hopefully) not leach harmful chemicals into the soil (paper goes through a lot of chemicals to get made), plus it has an added benifit of deterring and discourageing pests like slugs from climbing up and having a midnight snack on your plant leaves. Nifty aye? Even earwigs get tangled in the fiber and never make it to the plant.

[hedgewizard]

Yep, wool sounds like a great idea - it breaks down over about three years, slowly releasing nitrogen as it goes. I read about it a month or two ago, and sadly my wool source (Digiveg) thought it sounded like such a good idea that now he uses all his wool himself. Rats.

Looks much neater, Rebecca - long may they perish. I've always been put off mulching by the slug thing, but I've been reading that it's only a problem while the micro-ecosystem settles down. I'm going to mulch with straw, but since I took that decision it hasn't stopped raining so I haven't put it on yet. Do bear in mind though that this is your "grace year" - your pest levels will peak next year and then begin to fall off as a new balance is established. Look forward to hearing how it goes!

[Maddy]

Have you not considered a more eco friendly straw mulch, it works a treat and will eventually add nutrients to the soil as it breaks down! It's very easy to lay, easy to plant into and I wouldn't imagine cost a lot for a large bail.

[Vallen Queen]

Oh, right slugs. That was one part of Ireland I didn't fall in love with. We have them here , too. I hate them!!! Your tunnel looks like great knowledge has been applied. You two never cease to amaz e me.