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Post by desertwoman on May 13, 2015 12:29:41 GMT -5
That makes sense, kimm.Thanks for the clarification.
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Post by gakaren on May 13, 2015 13:04:58 GMT -5
Not sure how much humidity either Pea gets or DW, but using pecan shells to mulch down here draws roaches. They love that oil that is still in the shell. We have several kinds of roaches....german (house), wood roaches & palmetto bugs.
I use pine straw down here as do most folks. I've also been using shredded pine cones. Neither of them have changed the ph of the soil, but it was super acidic to begin with here.
I've also read a couple of studies that agree with what Kimm said...it only affects nitro levels if it is worked into the soil. If you use bark, just don't put it down too heavy...about 2-3" will keep most weed seeds from sprouting, at least it does here.
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Post by johng44 on May 13, 2015 13:54:54 GMT -5
I also use pine bark, pine straw and some wheat straw. Never to heavy on either just a nice layer in the raised beds. Works nicely.
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Post by desertwoman on May 13, 2015 15:21:38 GMT -5
karen- we start complaining 'how humid it is' when humidity hits 20-25%
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Post by lilolpeapicker on May 13, 2015 16:16:24 GMT -5
We have a fair amount of humidity...but you can have a run of it for awhile and then low stats for awhile. I am not sure here i Would get that here...neber heard its usage before, DW mentioned. And Kimmsr, you probably have debunked our queries about the effects of the mulch before so we need you to remind us sometimes...thanx.
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Post by ecsoehng on May 13, 2015 16:37:35 GMT -5
I use the county land fill mulch for my flowers and decorative plantings. It is hot composted and you can see the steam coming from the piles. I worry about persistent herbicides in it but so far it has been good and it has so much compost in it I don't add compost to those beds. Some people don't like it because the size of the wood chunks in it are variable but I see all that compost in there and I am happy with it. I can throw any larger chunks in the woods. I use only straw or old hay on my edible crops.
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Post by ncgarden on May 13, 2015 17:05:56 GMT -5
I use a lot of wood mulch (ground from the trees we take down) for walking areas. I use a lot of stray and leaf mulch everywhere else. The leaf mulch seems to be having a really negative impact on my salad crops so I may have to change up there.
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Post by Mumsey on May 14, 2015 3:17:34 GMT -5
Cypress mulch here only for perennial beds. It's a nice color, light and natural looking. I don't care for the colored mulches and they are too pricey. When it gets to looking drab, rake it up and fluff it up, looks like new. The sun eventually bleaches it out too. I rarely add any to the hosta beds since the hostas tend to fill the spaces and you can't see much mulch anyway.
What are your thoughts on landscape fabric? I have used it but have decided it's a waste of time and money. Robust perennials spread and pop right up through it, as will dandelions. I find it's best to just keep the soil covered with mulch.
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Post by ncgarden on May 14, 2015 8:34:36 GMT -5
Mumsey - landscape fabric is a waste of time as far as weed prevention. I suppose it helps keep dirt from sliding, maybe, but my weeds are not even slowed down by it. The only thing I have found as a weed block that works are old feed bags!
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Post by octave on May 14, 2015 10:20:11 GMT -5
I have used landscape fabric extensively, but I place it on top of cardboard first. It does the job but it's a lot of work.
Some people use upside down carpet pieces to block weeds, then cover it with mulch. I know it's effective, but I find it a bit repulsive.
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Post by desertwoman on May 14, 2015 11:09:18 GMT -5
I've had great success with landscape fabric. I only use it in pathways with wood chips on top. You need to get the long lasting ones- like 15-20 years. I've bought it at the end of the season at half (or more) off. The paths at the house in town have had it in place for 11-12 years and it is still doing its' job!
This yard also had "professional grade"l landscape fabric already in place when we moved in, with only an inch or so of pecan mulch on top of, it under some trees. In the almost 6 years I've been here, nary a weed has popped through.
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Post by gakaren on May 14, 2015 23:04:02 GMT -5
And I also have had horrid results with landscape fabric. Weed seeds will be blown in by the wind and when they sprout, the roots go through the fabric and if you try to pull them....it all comes up, fabric too!
I will not use cypress mulch. The cypress trees are in danger and disappearing quickly. Here's a little bit about that....
[/quote]
www.landscapeonline.com/research/article/6630
I use pine bark mulch since pine trees are grown as crops for the paper industry and the bark is a secondary product from that. Where they are planted is usually land not suitable for farming...hilly and/or swampy. They help to control erosion and give wildlife a habitat. When they are cut, that land is normally replanted again within a year or less. And if the pine straw (needles) aren't harvested as another secondary product, they also add some organic matter to the soils around them.
[/p][/p][/p]
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Post by kimmsr🕊 on May 15, 2015 6:53:25 GMT -5
The relatively inexpensive weed block landscape fabric I have seen is too open weave to be an effective unwanted plant blocker, too much light can get through. The more expensive "professional" landscape fabric is better at keeping those unwanted plants from getting the sunlight they need to grow, but in my experience plant roots grow into it and make removal difficult. But, if newspaper or cardboard is put down the landscape fabric is not needed at all.
I know some people use carpet and back when carpet was made of wool or other natural fabric that might have made sense. Carpet today is made of synthetic fiber so an organic grower would need to rethink using synthetic fiber carpet in the garden. Does that make the garden a non organic one? Does using synthetics of any kind make a garden a non organic one? When does compromise become a problem for an organic grower?
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Post by octave on May 15, 2015 8:05:25 GMT -5
I beg to differ kimmsr.
A layer of cardboard underneath landscape fabric more than doubles its effectiveness--and cardboard is cheaper than fabric.
Professional landscape fabric is almost always layered in 2+ layers, and this is done after the area has been sprayed for weeds (by professionals).
I've also found black plastic layered underneath landscape fabric.
In my neck of the wood one single layer of landscape fabric, whether professional grade or not, will not be enough to do the job.
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Post by Mumsey on May 15, 2015 16:27:21 GMT -5
I hear you Karen, planning to switch over to some other type of mulch one bed at a time!
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