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Fibrous compost, Spent Mushroom Compost,
Spent Hops
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Fibrous compost spent mushroom compost
and spent hops are widely used as mulches. Straw — especially straw
from stables — is excellent, though the latter tends to generate heat
if applied thickly, so it is just as well to moisten and heap it for a
few weeks before spreading it close to plants.
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Seaweed
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Seaweed makes valuable soil-feeding
mulch. This can be salty so it is as well to hose the seaweed in a
place where salt-carrying water can run off safely before spreading it
on the garden.
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Lawn Leaves
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Lawn leaves are one of the most
frequently used mulches. They are also a valuable material but, like
stable straw, will generate heat if spread thickly when fresh and
green. I prefer to moisten and heap them for a few weeks before
spreading. It is usually easy to have a few conveniently placed
hideaways behind shrubbery where the lawn leaves can be heaped prior to
spreading. Alternatively, once you have good mulch established, it can
be maintained by adding a light sprinkling of the green clippings to it
each week or so.
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Leaves
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This including those of deciduous trees
and gum leaves, will make valuable mulching material. Once gum leaves
dry it is difficult for water to penetrate them evenly if they are
spread more than about 5 cm deep. This initial water resistance can be
largely avoided by moistening and heaping them for a few weeks as
suggested for grass clippings. Another ideal mulching material is a
mixture of gum leaves and grass which is taken up by the mower catcher
from a leafy lawn. Again, it is best to moisten and heap this for a few
weeks before spreading.
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Wood Chip Mulch
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Wood chips mulch make from feeding pruning
through a hammer mill or shredder makes a good, long-lasting mulch.
Sawdust and shavings contain little or no nutriment but give insulation
and protection to the soil they cover, and help to lighten clayey
soils. They don't take nitrogen from the soil unless dug in or applied
more than about 10 cm deep; and in any case this can be 6vercome by
watering them about once a month with one of the complete soluble plant
foods or by sprinkling them with a little fertilizer.
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Pine Bark Mulch
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Pine bark mulch also helps to keep the
soil in good condition even though it has little or no nutritional
value. It is more expensive than nother mulches mentioned but is long
lasting and more attractive for feature areas.
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