Re: Fw: Fwd: Maybe try the No-till way (Was Pioneer Plants)


Reid Family wrote:
> 
> Irene,
> You say you got phytophthera from free chips, but we purchased a large
> quantity of  bark shreds and last year one of my camellias turned up with
> it.  Buying it apparently is no guarantee!

  Actually, no, I haven't got it. I'm just afraid of getting it,
  so haven't introduced any new chips since the disease started
  wiping out trees in the region - I am afraid that tree services
  may be called in to take down diseased trees, and then be
  looking for a place to dump the chips.

  Instead we've been hauling in used straw from horse/cattle properties 
  around here. I am not as thrilled with the results because there
  seems to be a lot of grass seed that came in with the straw. I've also
  heard oldtimers here say that one could buy fresh hay (supposedly fewer
  viable seeds) and combine it with grape pressings, but I don't quite 
  understand the chemistry of why that particular combination would
  be good?

-- Irene.

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Irene Kuffel" <ikuffel@cisco.com>
> To: <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
> Cc: <ikuffel@cisco.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, May 01, 2002 10:33 PM
> Subject: Re: Fwd: Maybe try the No-till way (Was Pioneer Plants)
> 
> 
> >
> > Barry Garcia wrote:
> >
> > > Which reminds me, I need to buy even more mulch to replace that which
> has
> > > broken down and or has gotten pushed into the sandy soil.
> >
> >   Which reminds me I have the same problem. Only "buy" is not
> >   the operative word here. I have about 2/3 acre that was mulched
> >   with wood chips dumped free of charge by a local tree-care company.
> >   The mulch has been very effective but has worn down and now
> >   needs to be replenished. However, with the phytophthera (sp?) scare
> >   I have been a little nervous about what I might be getting
> >   with fresh loads of chips. On the other hand, buying enough
> >   compost to cover such a large area may cost more than I'd like.
> >
> >   Can other list members comment on their experiences with
> >   low-cost mulching materials - what's effective, what's safe?
> >
> > Thanks much,
> >
> > -- Irene Kuffel
> >
> > Napa Valley, California
> > http://www.geocities.com/ikuffel/
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