Living mulch - a relatively new technology that is becoming increasingly popular among domestic farmers. This method is not an alternative common mulch, and its improved version. However, many gardeners use on their sites, both methods simultaneously.
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What is the method of mulching
The technology is a ground cover plant crop between the main cultures.
For example, live mulch clover planted between the rows of onion, garlic and other vegetable crops, will protect the beds from weeds and promote better growth of the plants.
According to many sources, different plants are suitable for this technology. However, experience shows that farmers, it is best to plant between the rows of white clover, as other crops are ineffective. This groundcover has a number of drawbacks, but they are offset by its advantages.
What requirements must meet the living mulch
Empirically it determined that quality mulch should have the following properties:
- Protect against weeds. Thanks to the white clover, wheat grass and other unwanted plants in the beds do not get enough light and nutrients. But do not forget that he is a shamrock weed. The plant grows quite quickly and begins to obscure and deny nutrients weak shoots of crops. The situation can be corrected, to thin the ranks of clover. It should be noted that this process is laborious and time consuming. In general, the task of protecting crops from weeds clover cope.
- Trap moisture. Live soil mulch covers dense layer, so the moisture evaporates slowly. This is due to the fact that the sunlight does not reach the ground. However, the delay in the soil moisture clover is possible only in moderate weather conditions. In the summer the air temperature is too high, and there was no rain for a long time, the roots of the plants begin to consume water, depriving water beds. Therefore, during a drought so alive mulch backfire. According to farmers, with the retention function of moisture shamrock handles along with other plants used as a living mulch.
- Saturate the soil with nitrogen. This element is essential for the growth and development of many vegetable and horticultural crops. Clover fills the earth with nitrogen, although instead of soil consumes other nutrients. Because of this, it is recommended to be planted in between rows of well-fertilized beds. Otherwise it can cause damage or capricious weak cultures.
- Loosen the soil. This function is needed in order to favorable conditions were created for the life of worms and a variety of useful microorganisms for vegetable crops.
- Lure beneficial insects. Shamrock flowers attract bees, so pollinated more plants.
conclusion
The landing of white clover as a flower bed mulch diversify and contribute to the rotation. This feature trefoil brings only advantages.
Gardeners should be careful when weeding beds because root systems of live mulch and vegetable crops may overlap. Careless execution of works can be fraught with poor harvest.
White clover cope with all the functions of mulch. However, its use is not always justified (for example when drought or poorly fertilized soil). Therefore, many gardeners prefer not to take risks and use on their beds both options mulching - classic and lively.
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