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Ah. . earthworms and microbes and mulch and critters. . . I likeit!

>I loved Jeff's latest rant on reasons for not using landscape fabric 
>for mulch! I couldn't have said it better myself and he pointed out 
>a few things I would have left out! I don't think you're getting 
>cranky in your old age, Jeff. . . you're just recognizing that it 
>takes lots of critters working in the soil to create the environment 
>plants need to food for themselves, for us, for the other critters. 
>Let's get more of these messages out there!

Mary Appelhof

>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
>
-- 
Mary Appelhof, Author of "Worms Eat My Garbage"
Flowerfield Enterprises
10332 Shaver Road
Kalamazoo, Michigan 49024 USA
PH:616-327-0108  FAX 616-327-7009
http://www.wormwoman.com/acatalog/wormwoman.html

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