Advantages, procedure and more

The benefits of mulching

Mulching offers a wide range of benefits. You should therefore not do without this measure in the vegetable patch either.

Protection of the soil:

• Weather influences such as wind and strong sunlight no longer dry out the soil as quickly.
• The sun can kill the soil life in the uppermost soil layers, because the important microorganisms die in extreme heat.
• Soil erosion is effectively prevented.
• The mulch layer keeps strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage and other crops dry and clean. This protects against plant diseases.

Soil improvement

• Mulched soils have a stable soil temperature. This protects the active small organisms and microorganisms.
• As a result, the bottom cooking and thus the quality of the Earth improved. The substrate has a loose crumb structure.
• By the naturally educated humus sandy soils gain water and nutrient retention.
• Clay soils are loosened.
• Mulching keeps the water and nutrient balance in the soil more stable.

In addition, weeds are suppressed by the mulch cover, so that you have to pull fewer and fewer weeds. The work becomes easier because the plants can easily be pulled out of the loose soil.

How do you mulch properly?

When mulching, do the following:

• Before mulching, loosen the soil surface well with a hoe or dig up.
• Use only material that is free from weed seeds and crop residues.
• Choose the right mulch material. For example, not all plants tolerate bark mulch, which can acidify the earth.
• Do not mulch too thick or it may cause rot.
• The mulch material should be shredded.
• Leave the mulched areas untouched for a while so that the active processes are not destroyed.
• However, regrowing weeds should be pulled out regularly.