How to make a padding for plants or mulching

The padding or mulching is a technique used in organic farming in which a physical barrier provides protection to the soil and prevents weeds from developing. This barrier consists of putting a layer of different materials, both organic and inorganic, on the surface of the soil, which prevents the passage of light and gives it protection against strong changes in temperature and against erosion.

The benefits of mulching They are diverse, including:

• It hinders the growth of weeds in the garden.
• Provides protection to the substrate and the microorganisms that inhabit it against sudden changes in temperature, winds or heavy rainfall.
• Helps keep roots warm in winter and cool in summer.
• It helps reduce water loss by evaporation and shades the soil, which allows moisture to be maintained in the substrate. Therefore, the mulching helps save water in crops.
• The mulching With organic materials, it helps soil fertility, since its elements decompose and are incorporated into the soil in the form of humus.
• It helps increase biodiversity and biological activity present in the soil.

Learn more Organic farming techniques in this other EcologíaVerde article.

There are two basic types of padded or mulching for plants and these are organic and inorganic:

organic padding

This type of mulching uses exclusively organic materials, such as peat moss, leaf litter, decomposed manure, straw, compost, sawdust, bark, wood chips, or dried grass clippings. The advantage of these types of mulches is that they also provide improvements to the soil in terms of fertility.

For example, a mulch of pine bark not only protects the soil, but also acidifies it. A mulch of shredded branches from plants that are healthy and disease free can also be used. Another way to mulch is to apply a thin layer of dry grass clippings or use the fallen leaves of deciduous trees.

other type of mulching The organic one that works very well is that of wood chips and bark, but with at least two years old, since the young bark usually absorbs nitrogen from the soil when it decomposes. Another option, if we are going to use young barks, is to apply some nitrogenous mineral fertilizer.

The mulching Organic is always the most recommended, since they break down and provide additional improvements to the soil, such as the supply of nutrients.

inorganic padding

This type of mulching uses inorganic materials, such as gravel, gravel, marble, crushed ceramics, expanded clay, volcanic rock or stones in general. However, these types of materials do not provide the improvements of organic ones. The padding or muching made with stones They are suitable on sloping ground and around downspouts.

It is recommended to carry out mulching before the tree or plant begins to sprout. In this way, the new plant will take better advantage of the contribution of nutrients or the improvement in the soil that will be produced. When we refer to our orchard, flowerpot or garden, the ideal is to do it at end of winterjust before starting the crops, and we can repeat it at the end of summer.

The steps to make a mulching or mulch for orchard or plants in general they are:

1. Remove weeds and loosen the soil with a hoe, leaving the soil loose so that the materials and supplements that we provide better penetrate.
2. Add the material and distribute it in a padding with a thickness of between 10 cm and 15 cm.
3. Add microorganisms, which will facilitate the decomposition of organic matter and the absorption of nutrients by the plant.
4. Add the nutrients that the plant needs.
5. With a rake or cultivator, bury the microorganisms and compost and mix them.
6. Water the crop.

So you will be ready mulch or mulch for orchard or plants.

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