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Re: Need That Gray Area

> From: Jeff Ball <jeffball@starband.net>
> To: Gardenwriters@topica.com
> Subject: RE: [GWL]: Need That Gray Area
> Date: Thu, Mar 21, 2002, 10:01 AM
> 
> 
> 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

Yes, maybe you are getting cranky.  

I disagree, landscape fabric -- specifically the woven type -- does not
seem to interfere much with biological activity as far as I can tell. We
use landscape fabric for weed control in our perennial herbs research
grounds and every time I have looked under the fabric I see lots of life
including earthworms. Above the fabric, leaf litter builds up and there
is a lot of life in that; and much of that material leaches into the
soil profile through the fabric.  Sure, the ecosystem is undeniably
altered by the presence of the weed barrier, but life does go on and
billions and trillions of microbes, fungi, insects, etc. thrive anyway. 

For us, the only practical alternative is regular cultivation, which,
for our sandy and easily eroded soil, is highly damaging.  The fabric
stopped the erosion completely.  

Conrad Richter


RICHTERS HERBS                     | Info: info@richters.com            *
Goodwood, ON  L0C 1A0, Canada      | Catalogs: catalog@richters.com     *
Tel +1-905-640-6677  Fax 640-6641  | Website: http://www.richters.com   *

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