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tea tree mulch
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Posted by aeor nsw (My Page) on Sat, Nov 19, 05 at 2:49
Hi
Is is safe to use tea tree mulch on plants? I just bought some spontaneously as I passed it in a hardware store, and as I spread it out, I realised the smell is quite strong. Does anyone know it to have any deleterious effect on plants?
I've just planted some prostanthera shrubs (prostrate form) and some myoporium ground cover with the tea tree mulch as mulch.
I may be paranoid.
cheers
Andrea |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: tea tree mulch
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| I wouldn't think so, beyond the normal problems with spreading green mulch (which is a bad idea because of N drawdown, potential pathogens, and tannin buildup). You should leave it in a pile to rot down to a nice brown earthy smelling mix without any obvious fungi (that usually means over winter). |
RE: tea tree mulch
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- Posted by aeor nsw (My Page) on
Sat, Nov 19, 05 at 12:58
Thanks Nathan
It's already really brown and earthy to look at but it smells very strongly. |
RE: tea tree mulch
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| Well I would give it a try. I always pile it on deep so that the worms and whatnot can really go to town. |
RE: tea tree mulch
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| I put some tea tree mulch under a hedge of callistemons in July last year. The mulch is still there and the callistemons are twice the size and about to flower. I did see an add for a darker colour tea tree mulch which was supposed to be available at Bunnings, but when I rang up about it Bunnings had never heard of it. I rang the supplier in Qld, who promised to ring me back but never did. It's a pity because the ordinary tea tree mulch is a light brown, and a darker colour would show off the plants much better. |
RE: tea tree mulch
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- Posted by aeor nsw (My Page) on
Mon, Nov 21, 05 at 3:14
That sounds impressive Wattleblossum. The bales I bought were very dark brown, and I'm getting to love the smell, it's so 'bushy'. I bought mine in Bunnings recently, it was from a supplier in NSW, let me know if you want the company name.
Maybe it doesn't last as long as the light brown mulch, but anyway, I'm going to get some more, now I've heard about your callistemon hedge. (of course there could me many other reasons for their flourish). Added bonus, the dark brown looks quite beautiful against the plants' foliage.
cheers
Andrea |
RE: tea tree mulch
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| Dark stains are rarely very fast (with the amusing exception of pitch). I doubt it would be worth extra money. The only dark mulch worth buying is pulverized aa lava, and we don't get that here :-( |
RE: tea tree mulch
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Yes Andrea, I would like the name of the supplier so I can ring Bunnings in Penriff to make sure they have it in stock before I make the trip down the hill.
I've tried many different mulches over the years on my exotic garden and find they all seem to fade to a certain extent, but by the time this happens, they usually need topping up again.
I think the reason the tea tree mulch I put down last year is still there is because I put a layer of newspaper underneath it, (easy to do with a hedge as it's in a straight line), so the mulch has been quite a while coming into contact with the soil. |
RE: tea tree mulch
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- Posted by aeor nsw (My Page) on
Mon, Nov 21, 05 at 19:29
Wattleblossum
The mulch comes from a supplier called Gollandra. It is in yellow bags with red and green writing on the front. I think it says 'Tea Tree Master'. They have a website. After looking at the mulch again, I think it may be dyed after all. The colour is uniform, but I can't be sure. |
RE: tea tree mulch
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I just rang Gollandra. They told me their tea tree mulch is not dyed but bagged when damp, which they say, makes it a darker colour than others. They also said it will fade when it dries out, so please Andrea, do let us know what happens.
It does sound like the sort of mulch you could spread around when you want your garden to look really good, maybe before an open garden day or similar. Not that I've yet reached that level of ego and insanity, but give me time. |
RE: tea tree mulch
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| Nitrogen draw down as a result of spreading green mulch only occurs if you mix it through the soil and then plant into it. Spreading it over the soil surface is unlikely to cause any problems. As for tanins and oils causing problems I am very sceptical of this Don Burke'ism. I have seen plenty of water repellent soil that does not involve any mulch what so ever.
Besides most of the oils are volatile and would evapourate quickly from the leaves during the heat of summer. Why else can you smell the tea tree mulch? |
RE: tea tree mulch
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| greg, that is my feeling to (regarding hydrophobic soils and mulch), I suspect it depends on the soil. I've had success with tip mulch over clay and over sandy loam. |
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