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Mulch Help
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Posted by Antonino_Giglio VIC Australia (My Page) on Sun, Sep 4, 05 at 2:01
I've a question regarding mulch.
I've a very small garden from which I took off all grass and put mulch instead (recycled red gum mulch).
From my experience and programs like Gardening Australia I understood that mulch shuld be at least 7-8cm so I did so.
But my problem is, if I need to plant seedlings of plants (in my case local natives) how should I do?
I mean... if I make a hole in the mulch it is 7-8 cm before I reach the soil, then need to do a hole in the soil for the plant seedling.
In this way I end up with the seedling nearly below the mulch surface as the seedlings themselves are tall no more that 8-9 cm.
Is there anything I'm doing wrong?
Thanks!!!!!!!!! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Mulch Help
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| g'day antonina, no your not doing anything wrong i often mulch up to 10 or 12"s deep. just pull the mulch well away before planting seedlings and leave that space clear or cutr the bottoms out of 6 or 8" pots and put these around the seedlings and pull the mulch back up to the pot barrier. len mail len lens garden page |
RE: Mulch Help
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| When plants are very small you need to clear a space of about 25-30 cm all round, then apply a very thin layer of mulch, leaving a few cm clear. This can be easier said than done as most native type mulches are quite chunky. I surround all my natives with finely cut lucerne straw. Lucerne keeps the soil moist for up to 2 weeks after watering, encourages worms and generally gets baby plants off to a good start. Good lucerne mulch can be expensive, but you've said you have a small garden so you won't need much. You can gradually bring the native mulch back over the lucerne for a more uniform look. |
RE: Mulch Help
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Thanks so much for your help guys!!!
Hei is pea-straw good instead of lucerne?
I've this at the moment and no money 4 new expenses... |
RE: Mulch Help
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| Pea-straw will be fine, so long as it is finely cut. |
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