To Mulch, or not to Mulch?

[David Humphries]

The ideal system would be a layer of finely chopped barley straw, covered with cardboard or paper, with a composted or inert mulch on top.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the info Marcus, will give this a trial

 

 

 

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[Will Hinchliffe]

Just a couple of questions to satisfy my curiosity. Why Barley straw? and why is it used in Ponds?

[David Humphries]

Just a couple of questions to satisfy my curiosity. Why Barley straw? and why is it used in Ponds?

 

We use it at work in our ponds.

When the straw begins to decompose it releases a compound ( ? ) which inhibits the growth of Algae.

 

Although we haven't used it, Lavander clippings can also be used for this.

 

 

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[Sciadopitys]

Would love to, but they never seem to return my calls

 

Guess they're just too damn busy tryin to get on top of those pesky OPM's

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I worked at Kew for 3 years and mulched many mature trees in that period. I used a turf cutter to cut out the edge of the circle to get a really neat finish, but didn't bother with the centre of the circle, nice thick layer of mulch will kill off most of the grass, and a dose of round-up now and then soon stops it in its tracks and keeps the mulched circle looking the business!

[D Mc]

David, I was actually a little surprised to see the crocus (?) so successfully circumnavigated the cardboard but then I remembered your friendly little, yellow-coated forest gnome poking holes with his magic wand.

 

Any chance there is a correlation?

 

If you are looking for advice, mine would be to keep replenishing the mulch (in the form of whole tree chips). The canopy cover is too light to prevent plant growth but with increased mulch depth you should get growth-appropriate and nonantagonistic for the tree. Nitrogen-fixing ferns would be a good cover.

 

Also keep it simple. This is still just organic material. It will take time for the soil microbes' activity to introduce it as organic matter into the soil.

 

Dave

[David Humphries]

David, I was actually a little surprised to see the crocus (?) so successfully circumnavigated the cardboard but then I remembered your friendly little, yellow-coated forest gnome poking holes with his magic wand.

 

Any chance there is a correlation?

 

Dave

 

 

 

Crocus' are only on the ouside of the mulch zone Dave, it's Daffodils that are comming through it on the inside.

 

Not sure Lees' "insertions" have had too much to do with it, I've seen Daffs come up through freshly laid Tarmac afore.

They're the phallistic battering rams of the spring bulb world .

 

Will be keeping it topped up

 

 

 

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[David Humphries]

A wee pictural update.

 

Canopy showing a fair amount of peripheral dieback at this stage.

But this appears to be no more than at first

 

 

 

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[David Humphries]

Here's what appears to be a mulching success story.

 

Two Veteran Quercus petrea, which had severe, mainly pedestrian afflicted compaction issues.

 

Three years ago, we carried out some relatively hefty lateral branch end weight reductions, then created dead hedges that forced the foot traffic between and beyond the drip lines of the Trees, and then mulched with local Oak & Beech leaf litter.

 

No before shots, but these show the vigour of the canopies from earlier today, which is in stark contrast to before the project.

 

There are some failed NTP's, and ftr, I didn't have the bottle to go ahead with fracturing on these high profile specimens back then.

Would do it now though

 

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[David Humphries]

So, is this new epicormic reaction to the natural decline of this Vet, or a byproduct of the Mulching?

 

 

Hmmmmmmm.......................

 

last year then yesterday

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[D Mc]

So, is this new epicormic reaction to the natural decline of this Vet, or a byproduct of the Mulching?

 

 

Hmmmmmmm.......................

 

last year then yesterday

.

 

In looking at your original pictures I can see these are the sites of previous epicormic growth. So that should be reassuring. I personally wouldn't cut it off yet.

 

Also I noticed your initial two tipper loads were of mostly woody material. One thing I have noticed that is quite stimulating for the soil is adding leaves, wood and even flowers from the spring growth. Not being a scientist I don't know the specifics; but I have seen beneficial results in the field. The only note of warning I would have on this would to go outside the Rosacea family to avoid cross contamination.

 

This layer can be very thin, 1/2" to an 1" would be enough. At the same time, double check the depth of your mulch layer. With the right conditions, these products can decompose very rapidly, losing 80 to 90% of their mass within the first couple of years. And thus will need replenishing.

 

Once again, I highly appreciate your keeping us informed on this tree. This type of research needs to be ongoing to give us the answers we need.

 

Dave