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Show Volume XV Issue XV The Ogden Valley news Page 15 July 15, 2008 “Mulch” Ado About Nothing—Except in the garden By Karen Bastow Mulching is a very simple, beneficial, and eye-catching practice to use in the garden. Often the terms “mulch” and “compost” are used interchangeably, but are they really the same? No! Mulch is any material that is placed over the soil in a garden. Compost is the end result of the decomposition of organic matter that is often added to soil. Compost can be used as mulch, but mulch is not necessarily compost. Mulching both vegetable gardens and flower beds can be a great time-saving tactic for a variety of reasons: • Keeps the soil moist and reduces the need for constant watering. • Helps maintain an even soil temperature. • Prevents and hinders the growth of weeds. • Organic mulch enriches the soil by slowly releasing nitrogen and nutrients. • Gives flower beds a finished and professional look. • Reduces compaction of the soil from foot traffic and storms. • Allows access to the garden even when damp—no muddy feet. • Keeps fruits and vegetables clean and off the ground. Mulches can either be organic or inorganic. Both organic and inorganic mulches have numerous benefits. Some common examples of organic mulches are grass clippings, straw, wood chips, and similar materials. As organic mulches slowly decompose, organic matter helps keep the soil loose which improves root growth, improves the water-holding capacity of the soil, and becomes a great source of plant nutrients. Inorganic mulch has a place in the landscape, but is more permanent and can be difficult to remove. These mulches lack the soil-improving qualities of organic mulches. Examples can be gravel, stones, brick chips, landscape fabric, plastic sheeting, and a fairly new rubber mulch made from recycled tires. Mulch materials can be found in your own yard and home. In fact, you are holding the beginnings of a great mulch right in your hand as you read this newspaper! A thick layer of 3-4 sheets of newsprint works well as a mulch. Since most newspapers have vegetable-based inks, there's no need to worry about damage to the environment. For example, smell the Ogden Valley news WILDLIFE cont. from page 1 Goal 2: Plan, prioritize, and implement actions that will enhance the state’s diversity of native fish and wildlife and their habitats. Goal 3: Expand and improve public and partners’ knowledge of, participation in, and coordination of native fish and wildlife conservation, management planning, and implementation activities. Goal 4: Ensure the availability of necessary resources to conserve Utah’s native fish and wildlife. Audubon Society, Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, The Nature Conservancy, Utah Farm Bureau Federation, and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. What’s in the Plan? • A listing of the 196 species of greatest conservation need, including species already listed under the ESA, state species of concern, and species for which we lack reliable scientific information to effectively manage their populations. • 10 key habitats that support many species of greatest conservation need, as well as big game and sport fish populations. These habitats should be targeted for critical habitat restoration and conservation activities by agencies, communities and landowners. • Conservation threats to all species and habitats in the plan, and conservation actions to address those threats, allowing conservation practitioners throughout the state to focus on the most critical threats to species and habitats through their conservation activities. The Road Ahead The vision of the Utah Wildlife Action Plan is stable and sustainable populations of Utah native fish and wildlife species conserved in their native habitats and managed for their intrinsic, scientific, educational, and recreational values. For this vision to become a reality, implementation of Utah’s Wildlife Action Plan will require new and enhanced partnerships to accomplish shared goals and achieve meaningful, measurable, and long-term wildlife conservation across the state. Wildlife Needs You! Successful wildlife conservation throughout Utah will include a variety of activities that collectively will require participation from natural resource management agencies, conservation organizations, stakeholder groups, local governments and communities, and private citizens. Here are some ways that you can get involved: • Learn more about Utah’s native wildlife at the Utah Conservation Data Center at http://dwrcdc.nr.utah.gov/ucdc/ • Learn more about the Utah Wildlife Action Plan at http://www.wildlife.utah. gov/cwcs/utah_cwcs_strategy.pdf • Become involved in Utah’s Watershed Restoration Initiative, a partnership-driven effort to conserve, restore, and manage ecosystems in priority areas across the state. Visit http://wildlife.utah.gov/ watersheds/index.php • Join a conservation organization and be a part of its efforts to conserve wildlife. If you area already a member, invite the Division of Wildlife Resources to discuss how your organization can participate in implementing the Wildlife Action Plan. Implementation Goals For questions or comments, please conGoal 1: Improve the scientific basis for tact the Wildlife Action Plan Implementation making comprehensive conservation deci- Coordinator from the Utah Division of sions for native fish and wildlife in an adap- Wildlife Resources at 801-538-4713. tive management framework. The Ogden Valley Land Trust—Building Sustainable Communities Through Conservation. Holding conservation easements on nearly 6,000 acres in Ogden Valley, The Ogden Valley Land Trust is dedicated to the preservation and conservation of open space to enhance the quality of life in Ogden Valley. Please donate to The Ogden Valley Land Trust. For more information, contact Shanna Francis at 801-745-2688. The Ogden Valley Land Trust is a legal 501(c)(3) non-profit organization federally recognized to receive tax-deductible donations. —it’s printed using soy-based ink. Finish mulched will be cooler in the summer than reading the paper first, of course, and then surrounding bare soil. In the winter mulched soil will be warmer and may not freeze as take it outside and use as a mulch. Lawn clippings make excellent mulch deeply. Because of this insulation, mulched particularly for vegetable gardens. Many soils cool down more slowly in the fall and people put down newspaper between the warm up more slowly in the spring. In order to obtain the maximum benefits garden rows and then add the grass clippings on top. Alone, the small clippings can of using mulch, the layer should be between be easily spread around even small plants. two to four inches thick after it settles. Coarse mulch will Too thick a layer of help prevent weeds grass clippings will from sprouting more rot, so add a thin layer than fine mulch. a little at a time. Before adding the Leaves are another mulch, remove any great mulch material weeds that are in the easily found in large area and give the quantities. Leaves soil a thorough soakcan be chopped into ing. Mulch should smaller pieces, stored be placed on top in the fall, brought out in the summer A great example of the use of fine bark mulch of the soil and not and added to the gar- is found in the yard of Mike and Janet Peters mixed into the soil as this can inhibit plant den. Hay and straw of Liberty. growth or damage work well in a vegetable garden, although they may harbor fragile roots. Mulching around trees and shrubs is a weed seeds. Rich, dark compost makes a beautiful good way to reduce landscape maintenance top-dressing mulch in gardens and flower and keep plants healthy. If trees and shrubs beds. In the fall, this can be turned under to are grown in a lawn area, damage often occurs improve the soil and add a variety of nutri- to the bark from a lawnmower or a string trimmer. Plus it is often difficult to mow around ents. Bark chips and composted bark mulch trees and shrubs. To eliminate this problem, are available either packaged or loose at remove the lawn in a circle at least 3 feet garden centers. These will also eventually out from the tree trunk and replace the lawn break down and improve the soil. The finer with coarse mulch such as shredded bark. the chips or bark, the sooner more will need Mulching can be done at planting time, but it can also be done around established trees. to be added. In a garden that contains raised beds, a Just spread a deep layer of mulch right over permanent mulch of pea gravel works well the existing grass. Before long the shade of the in the areas between the boxes. Rock mulch mulch will smother the grass. Any grass that absorbs heat during the day and releases the comes through can be pulled or sprayed with heat at night. This can cause some water a weed killer. It is important to pull back the loss, but will also help keep plants warm mulch one to two inches from around the base during cool mountain nights. Light colored of the tree to prevent bark decay. Some gardeners feel that if mulch is materials will reflect sunlight and cause the temperature around the plants to be warmer. good the more they use the better; howBlack plastic is not recommended as ever, the mulch layer can become too a mulch material for landscape plants. deep. Mulch that is too deep can result in a Plastic will help control most weeds and situation in which roots are growing in the conserve water, but it does not allow water, mulch and not in the soil. In order to understand the importance nutrients, and air to move freely to the soil below. Plants often develop a very shallow of mulch, think back to the last time you root system that is more subject to damage walked through a forest. You may have noticed that the forest floor was covered during severe drought or cold weather. Allow the soil to warm up in the spring by pine needles, leaves, dead plant matebefore applying mulch so seeds will germi- rial, rotten wood, and other debris. This is nate well and perennials will begin to grow. nature’s mulch. We can learn from this and Mulch provides an insulating barrier between create the same conditions found in nature the soil and air, so a soil that has been right in our own yards. Paul L. Judd The only name in Valley Real Estate you’ll ever need to know. 814-5667 Cell Come See This Beautiful Home $715,000 ~ MLS #787731 ~ 3450 E. 5150 N. Liberty, UT This beautiful 3900 sq ft. home sits on 4.74 acres & lies in the heart of the Upper Ogden Valley. There are three Ski resorts (Snowbasin, Powder Mtn. & Wolf Mtn). within 20 minutes of this home. Pineview Reservoir is 10 minutes away. North Fork Park (5,000 acre county park) is 3 minutes away. You can ride horses, snow mobiles or 4 wheelers right out your front yard. Includes a spectacular 52’ x 48’ shop which has 14’ high & 14 ‘ wide drive through overhead doors for easy storage of your motor home. Also has two 12’ x 12’ overhead doors for easy storage for your boat or horse trailer and inside hay storage & covered animal pens. This property features a fenced orchard, and square foot garden. There are tons of quakies, pine trees, and flower beds all on timed drip water lines. All you have to do it turn it on. All of this and a beautiful seasonal stream meandering through the property. This beautiful home features 5 bedrooms plus a large finished Bonus room above the 4-car garage. Top quality throughout. Cozy Lopi wood stove on main level gives you warm comfort on winter days. Central air gives you enjoyable coolness on hot summer days. Large master bedroom features walk-in closet with organizers and an awesome jetted tub. Most of the basement is unfinished just waiting for you to finish as you like. Top it all off with a wonderful covered deck off of the kitchen and life just does not get much better . Visit this home on line at Pauljudd.net or call me for you own personal showing at 801-814-5667. |