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Show 1984 Farm and Garden Edition Mulching garden soils is valuable gardening practice by Terry A. Tindall Extension Soils Specialist Utah State University Mulching Utah garden soils may very well be one of the most valuable practices of gardening. Originally all mulches were organic materials such as straw or composted material. These organic materials can provide many beneficial effects. These include: the control of annual weeds and grasses, the elimination of cultivation and the resulting of damage to plant roots; the reduction of moisture through evaporation; water retention, decreased runoff and erosion and the regulation of temperature. Other benefits of mulching include cleaner, more easily harvested crops, the reduction of fruit rot, and r ft f 9 t 9 9 9 9 P 9 ? 9 f f S i i easier movement through the garden during very wet periods. Surface mulches will provide conditions for plant roots to develop throughout the surface inches of the soil to absorb water, nutrients and oxygen. Luxuriant stem, leaf, flower and fruit growth follows the development of vigorous, extensive root growth. Many materials are available for mulching. The selection of a particular material depends upon the cost, availability, the season of the year and also the crop to be planted. Until recently the types of mulches were all natural. In the past few years, university researchers, commercial farmers and home gardeners have experimented with black and clear plastics as mulches, and have achieved good results. Natural and synthetic mulches have both advantages and drawbacks. It becomes the individual gardener's decision which material would fit his own specific needs. The plastic mulches may have great advantages in increasing crop yields and in controlling weeds, but their virtues in no way deny the value of a natural organic mulch. A natural mulch is frequently applied soon after the emergence of the crop seedlings or following transplanting. A delay in application of an organic mulch may be desirable if the soil temperature has not warmed sufficiently during the spring season. The soil temperature under the organic mulch will be reduced. Mulching depth will vary with material selected. A primary objective of the mulch is to prevent or greatly reduce the germination and growth of annual weeds and grasses. Therefore, the amount used may vary from 1 to 2 inches for sawdust, peat moss, cotton seed hulls and ground corncobs and up to 4 to 8 inches for course or fluffy material like straw, hay, corn stalks or other similar material. Apply mulch evenly around transplants. If the mulch becomes saturated or wet, avoid any packing around the stem or trunk of the plants. This is to insure free air circulation at the base of the transplants. This will decrease the chance for disease. The mulch should be maintained at its original thickness. As the volume decreases, new material should be added. The mulch will gradually decompose and improve the soil's tilth. As an organic mulch is continually used, a marked improvement in your garden soil will be seen. The ease and enjoyment of working in your garden will be evident. Where sawdust is available, it is commonly used as a mulch. The material is recommended to be partially decomposed and applied at 1 to 1 Vt inches deep. This is about S bushels of sawdust to a 10 foot plot, or about 50 lbs. of dry material. Before application, mix one pound of actual nitrogen fertilizer to 5 bushels of sawdust. The fertilizer will decrease the time for decomposition. If no nitrogen was added the bacteria would utilize some of the nitrogen in the soil and the garden plants would suffer. Using organic materials as mulches may cause an increase in pests and an environment for diseases to Necessary precautions and treatments to reduce these problems may be needed. over-winte- r. The use of plastics as mulches is becoming more popular. This is Black plastics will not increase the especially true in areas like Utah where the soil temperature in the soil temperatures as much as clear early spring prohibits early transplastics because the suns radiation A in clear close is reflected back into the planting. plastic contact with a smooth soil surface atmosphere. Weed control under may increase the soil temperature by black plastics is very effective 10 degrees F or more. This in turn because of light reduction. Many will promote early maturity and gardeners who use black or clear increased yields of many plants. The plastics also utilize organic mulches. clear plastic will not eliminate weeds When the necessary soil temperafrom growing under the plastic and ture has been met, organic material is spread over the plastic. The mulch necessary steps herbicides around transplants) to will decrease the weeds under the control the weeds should be taken. clear plastic and also lessen the tre Grow vegetables and strengthen relationships at the same time? Yes, its possible say specialists at Utah State University. But they remind parents that certain conditions must be met. d You must want to make both the garden and the relationship with the child grow. Both parent and child must become interested in gardening. Your chances of success diminish if you have to coerce, threaten, or punish children to get them to participate in the garden project. It certainly helps if a good parent-chil- d relationship already exists. Consider the demands. You, the gardener, must have patience and an ample supply of time and energy. You must exert the will to answer countless questions and be able to handle disappointment, disaster and desertion calmly. It works best if parent and child plan together. Select the site then plan for preparing the soil, selecting seeds, planting, caretaking, harvesting and storing. Discuss the skills needed for each. children are teachable moments. The child may hoe up a row of young vegetable plants wiht the weeds, or kill plants with too much fertilizer. These occasions provide opportunities for calm discussions that can teach children not only about gardening, but about life on a broader scale. Realize that communication coupled with planning is one of the most important lessons to be learned by both parent and child. If the child is reluctant to join you in the garden, consider whether you have scheduled the gardening time well in advance and communicated that schedule to your child. Dont expect enthusiastic cooperation if the first time the child knows about your weeding schedule is when you interrupt a game or a favorite television program. For a successful experience, strive to share with your child learning about work, effort, planning, responsibility and about reaping the fruits of ones labor. You both will grow closer through sharing in the experience. The Planting in plastics is easily accomplished after the plastic has been set out. A sharpened bulb planter will provide a clean hole with a twisting motion. Continue through children. Similarities between the life cycles of vegetables and of people provide many teaching moments. Explain that just as plants need different care at different stages of their life cycle, so do people. These similarities observed open doors for talking to children about the nurturing and maturing processes and even about death. As you embark on your garden project, realize that just as plants are not all the same, neither are parents or children. Also, while it takes generally only one season to grow and harvest a garden, remember parent-chil- d that it requires many seasons to of human explore the many facets relationships. Take this time to build and strengthen the good feelings, the mutual trust and respect that can and ought to exist between parent and child. Of course there are no guarantees at the time of planting seeds that youll harvest the desired product. Remember also that the successful bonds strengthening of parent-chil- d is not guaranteed. Many things can and will occur throughout the season to affect the outcome, the specialists note. Just keep in mind that good gardeners learn from their mistakes. They keep on trying and growing. JOHN DEERE RIDER MOWERS Features on Special factory supported prices on the 0 and higher priced riders with built-i- n JOHN DEERE quality. 2. Stratton engine. adjustable mower. 8 hp Briggs & h transmission. Optional rear bagger. priced from S995.00 GUNNISON IMPLEMENT COMPANY Model specialists also communication skills between the point out that a garden project adult and child. The child learns that provides opportunity to observe and there is a systematic way of doing discuss how plants and people grow and develop similarly. Seeing tiny things. It takes into account the soil, objects planted, then sprout, grow, climate, seed, equipment, energy blossom and bear mature fruit can and the human skills needed. result in powerful learning as Realize that disappointments and parents explain these parallels in even disasters in gardening with understandable ways to their These plans will help cultivate Watering is done by making two trenches on either side of the plastic. The water will spread from the trenches to the plants by' seepage. Make sure that the outer edges of the plastic are secured by placing soil along both outside edges. relationship Strengthen parent-chil- d parent-chil- the plastic into the soil. This will decrease any unnecessary tearing of the plastic. Seeds may be planted by with a puncturing the plastic holes and making sharpened pole into the soil. mendous amounts of heat generated by the black plastics. In our area we would generally recommend the use of a clear plastic. The major advantage to plastics is to increase soil Weeds should be temperature. effectively controlled as temperatures reach 90 degrees. University 0 Gunnison, Utah 1 Phone 528-727- Save lives Buckle up I Dram ;l 5 ml dreras Super HDII The ECLT 250 Prairie Has IPILBKnrV F For Your Farming Needs $TU Series 3 diesel oil prJGQ (1540) fi c77T1 U MBS Series 1 diesel oil (30) The Best and Fastest Way Ever to Get Around For All Your Farm Chores! V I: 835-920- 1 Magnus 315 Hydraulic oil Oil Prices May Never Be Lower ! 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