Re: Cultivating the soil?
ginny wrote:
>
> Mark,
>
> I use only decomposed--double or triple ground, the darker the better. I
> wouldn't run the risk of burning my stuff using fresh chips. Not only that,
> I don't want the seeds of multifora roses, bittersweet, poison ivy, etc.
> having free reign of my garden. Seems like that is all contained in chips
> you can get for free.
>
> I take it you haven't had the problem.
>
> Ginny
Hi Ginny,
I also use only decomposed wood material(preferrably bark), the older
the better. The size of the hamering I don't think matters as much as
the age.
I use these decomposed materials as both mulch and to condition the
soil. It is a good additive for both sandy and clay soils (functions are
different: in the first case to retain moisture, in the second to loosen
the structure). Bark is of course an ideal additive and mulch for the
woodland. But I have found that all wood materials, including decomposed
bark,and eveen shredded leaves (which are wonderful in many ways) are
not suitable as the summer mulch for the perennial beds. The plants
don't like it as much as materials that decompose rapidly and are high
in nitrogen and trace minerals. There are a number of different things I
use: but I prefer for most things cocoa.
Mark
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