Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-06-03
BY w. H. YOUNGMAN

The use Of mulcheS in the
garden is not a new practice,
but rather gardeners are begin
ming to learn the real values of
this operation. Actually, it is
the experimental work over the
past few years that has pointed
up the real advantages of the
use of some sort of soil cover.
Not only does mulch greatly
reduce the labor Of cultivation
of our garden plants, but it
keeps the soil cool. In areas
such as this vicinity where air
temperatures soar to whiting
heights, the soil temperatures
go high. Obviously when that
happens the plants also tend to
wilt and stop growth activity.
Many have had the expert
ence of seeing their flowers wilt
ing under the heat and have
applied a mulch and watched
them revive and become pro-
ductive again within few days.
Roses and a host of other
garden favorites should not be
expected to thrive and be pro-
,ductive during the hotter part
Of the summer unless the beds
are mulched.
Retain Humus Content
Mulches also maintain the
humus content of the soil much
more effectively than does the
mixing into the soil of an equal
quantity of plant material.
Seemingly, in the cooler soil be-
meath mulch, bacteria action
is slower and the tiny particles
of humus that filter down into
the soil last longer. And, of
course, the humus content OF
the soil is important to root
functioning and the nutrition
of the plants.
The other advantages of
mulch are well-known. They
conserve moisture; prevent the
growth of weeds: aid in the lib
Grafton of plant foods; permit
air to enter the soil much more
effectively than where the sur
face is unprotected; and prevent
erosion and the loss Of the sur
face soil. Soil technicians can
add to this list, but they all
point the same way. You can
not afford not to mulch the soil
in your garden.
Many Materials Will Serve
The kind Of mulching material
to be used is of little importance
the main point is to use some
thing. Generally. gardeners have
their special preferences, al
though the cost of obtaining
satisfactory materials is prob
ably the major influence with
most gardeners. Some materials
such as chopped straw and hay
are often overlooked for the
more publicized tan bark, peat
moss, salt hay, ground corncobs.
etc.
Crushed peanut hulls are ex-
cellent but not readily available
in this area.
Sugarcane bagasse is another
material that is long-lasting and
effective but needs the addition
of nitrogen to take care Of the
bacteria action. The same applies
to other cellulose materials such
as sawduSt and ground corncobs.
Chopped newspapers may not
seem a desirable form of mulch
but if run through a washing
machine and converted into a
pulp that may be spread with a
watering pot. they make a very
good one. according to a leading
State experiment station.
Aluminium foil. building paper,
and other materials are often
mentioned as suitable mulches
for the garden.
Some gardeners simply put on
a fresh layer of mulch each
spring. Others wishing to get
their plants into early growth
will remove the protective cover
until the soil warns up a bit.
This is a good practice in the
perennial border, but hardly
necessary for the azaleas, camel
las. rhododendrons. and similar
plants. If the work to remove