Spring Gardening News Distributed 02/22/08
Mulching is one of the most important tasks for a successful landscape. Ornamental plants benefit greatly from it. Mulching should be part of garden maintenance at least twice a year, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Allen Owings.
Pine straw is an excellent choice among mulch products available on the market. It saves time in landscape maintenance; it greatly reduces weeding time, watering and clean-up after heavy rains; and it creates an environment in which plants grow uniformly. In addition, pine straw gradually breaks down to release nutrients and organic matter and to improve soil texture.
Owings recommends a 3-inch layer for the initial application. He says one-half pound per square foot will give this desired depth. Most bales sold in Louisiana weigh 25-51 pounds and contain 3-6 cubic feet of mulch. A 25-pound, 3-cubic foot bale will cover 50 square feet 3 inches deep. Annual or semi-annual reapplication of pine straw mulch can be done to a depth of 1 inch. When reapplying, one bale of pine straw should go three times as far.
Good mulching benefits plants, the soil and surrounding areas in many ways. Owing says these benefits include conserving soil moisture, preventing crusting of the soil surface, maintaining uniformity in soil temperature, reducing weed seed germination and subsequent growth, preventing upward splashing of soil fungus, lessens possibilities of cold damage, slowing erosion, preventing soil compaction and adding to the beauty of the landscape.
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On the Internet: LSU AgCenter: www.lsuagcenter.com
Contact: Allen D. Owings (225) 578-2222 or aowings@agcenter.lsu.edu
Editor: Mark Claesgens (225) 578-2939 or mclaesgens@agcenter.lsu.edu