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RE: Need That Gray Area

Landscape fabric is bad simply because it deprives earthworms and soil
microbes of access to food.  No earthworms and microbes, more plant stress,
more plant problems.  All bare soil should be covered with organic mulch,
not just to keep down weeds, not just to slow evaporation of water in the
soil, but mostly to feed the earthworms and microbes.  Large wood chips may
be attractive to some because they take longer to decompose, but they are
also poor food for earthworms and microbes.  I am aware of the problem of
fast decomposition of stuff in the south, yet I've had heated discussions
with southern colleagues arguing that if they looked closely, that mulch was
being consumed by earthworms as much as being decomposed by microbes which
is good for the health of the plants.  The earthworms are critical because
they don't eat at the surface.  They grab a mouthful and move on down into
the soil.  They are sloppy eaters and leave leftovers for soil bacteria.
The deeper the earthworm goes to eat, the deeper the root system of the
plants because the microbes create the good soil conditions if they have
food to eat.  I've also suspected that mulch laid over landscape fabric will
have a smaller population of ants, spiders, and ground beetles because there
is no contact with the soil.  I'm not sure about that; just a suspicion.
Ants, spiders and ground beetles are the most valuable beneficial insects in
a home landscape; the ladybugs have good pr but don't hold a candle to the
big three in terms of controlling pest insects.  I don't even recommend
black plastic any more for vegetable gardens for the same reasons.  Maybe
I'm getting cranky in my old age.

Jeff

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