Hot Stuff
In the face of extraordinary temperatures in much
of the nation,
questions arise about what to do in gardens to
salvage as much as
you can.
The most practical thing you can do right now
is to apply mulch.
On hot, dry summer days, mulch retains moisture
much better than
soil therefore reducing the volume of water needed
at a time when
water in your area might be in short supply.
In really hot areas,
the sun bakes the nutrients out of the mulch
so repeat mulching
is the order of the day.
Texas-based garden writer/lecturer Liz Druitt
tells me she often
mulches four times a season to keep organic matter
available to
the plants and the roots as cool as possible.
Different areas of the country have different
mulch materials
available to gardeners. Here are some effective
ones:
* Buckwheat hulls. This fine-textured mulch has
a distinctive
brown color. It has one problem, that being its
weight. If you
use it in windy areas it is likely to blow away.
This is
particularly true when you first apply it. After
it ages a bit
it, l ike us, tends to stay put more. Under mild
conditions, it
can last up to three years. Apply it to a depth
of three inches.
* Cocoa shells, a.k.a. cocoa-bean hulls or cocoa
hulls. This is a
more expensive mulch, if you can find it at all.
When you first
apply it, you will smell the delightful scent
of chocolate but
the smell doesn't last. Cosmetically, it is a
very attrac tive
product with a rich brown color and a nice texture
of small
particles. It does leach a little nitrogen as
it breaks down, so
plan on supplementing. It also is vulnerable
to wind.
* Compost usually can't be produced in sufficient
quantities at
home to fully do the job. Still the organic benefits
to the soil
cannot be exaggerated. In most areas, compost
is available in
bulk or bag. In lots of places it is the product
of a commu nity
"clean green" or recycle programs. You should
apply compost to a
depth of four inches to do the job and will need,
as previously
mentioned, to repeat the job during hot spells.
* Pine straw is attractive and free of weeds.
This is a truly
superior mulch product. The straw resists compaction
which means
better water infiltration into the soil.
* Salt hay comes in bales where it is available
(mainly coastal
regions) and is dried salt marsh grasses. This
is a good, see-
free all around mulch. It will break down so
needs reapplication.
It is also somewhat flammable so watch the smokers.
Next week, we'll talk about some plants that like it hot!
Good luck and great gardening.
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David Soper, The Garden Guy, writes and lectures on gardening topics. Read more on his website, Adventures in Gardening, www.gardenguy.com
