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Bark for mulching: which is better, how to chop
Mulching is one of the best ways to improve soil fertility and create the most favorable conditions for the growth and development of crops. This agrotechnical technique consists in the fact that the surface of the soil is covered with a layer of organic material. The bark for mulching is very popular. This material not only has a good effect on the viability of plants, but also significantly improves the appearance of the site.
How to properly grind bark for mulching
First of all, you need to check if the material is suitable for your purposes. To do this, try removing the layer from the wellbore. Good mulch bark separates easily and does not shatter into small pieces from touch. If this is not the case, then it is worth looking for other material. This one is not suitable for mulching.
Mulching bark is quite easy to harvest
Do not remove bark from old tree stumps or long-fallen trees. There are practically no nutrients left in such material. In addition, there are various pests and fungi that you can infect your plants with.
The removed bark must be crushed with any gardening tools to a size of 1-5 cm. After that, it is recommended to sterilize the material in order to destroy possible pests or pathogens. The easiest way to do this is by boiling the wood. But some gardeners prefer to preheat the bark in the oven at temperatures up to 70 ° C. Steam treatment will not work in this case, because the wood is quickly destroyed.
Which bark is best for mulching
There are no definite recommendations regarding the choice of this or that material. And you can use almost any kind for mulching. But still it is not recommended to use oak bark on the site. It contains a large amount of tannins that have a harmful effect on delicate plants.
The birch bark looks spectacular on the site. But pine wood is preserved the longest.
It is believed that it is best to mulch the soil near plants with representatives of the same species. For example, it is recommended to lay the bark of coniferous trees near spruces and pines. And the best “fertilizer” for flowers will be hardwood.
The bark for mulching is not only a decoration of the site, often used in landscape design, but also a rather useful agricultural technique. Thanks to it, you can significantly improve the vitality of crops, increase their productivity and resistance to diseases.