Plum details. Cultivation, useful properties and variety selection. Sawdust as a fertilizer: soil mulching technology Is it possible to mulch the soil with coniferous sawdust

Mulching with sawdust protects crops in beds from drying out in summer and freezing in winter. Mulch retains moisture, maintains temperature, and inhibits weed growth. Consider in the article how to make mulch, what advantages and disadvantages this method has.

Features of mulching with sawdust

There are many organic materials for mulching. In view of the development Agriculture more often sawdust is used for mulching. Despite its cheapness, the material brings great benefits. Sawdust is used both in winter and in summer. They do not allow the roots of crops to freeze. It is enough to lay them out on the beds and tamp. To prevent sawdust from fluttering in the wind, cow dung is added to the mulch.

The soil for the winter is mulched in mid-October or early November. A layer of up to 3 cm is laid on the beds. But mulching with sawdust is not suitable for all plants and soil types. Be careful with oak and coniferous sawdust! For different cultures, the thickness of the mulch layer is selected:

for tulips, garlic and onions, it is 6 cm;
for strawberries and carrots - up to 4-5 cm.

From the beds of strawberries and strawberries, the mulch is not removed all year round.

Hay and straw are similar in their characteristics to sawdust. Read also the article: → "". We give in the table the features of mulching with various organic materials.

Material	Application features
	Suitable for bulbous (flowers and vegetables), strawberries, carrots, beets and berry bushes.
	Like sawdust, it rots for a long time, so it is used for early crops. The layer reaches 10-15 cm.
	Suitable for everyone vegetable crops.
Grass (hay)	Quickly rots and saturates the soil with nutrients. Grass or hay is laid in a layer of 4-6 cm.
Fallen leaves	Suitable for cabbage and beans. They also cover the flower beds for the winter.

There are several approaches to soil mulching. Mulching according to Kuznetsov has its own characteristics:

The aisles are covered with a thick layer of sawdust to prevent the growth of weeds.
Biocompost is introduced into the ridges themselves. If the earth is clayey, then add sand.
As crops grow, sawdust is sprinkled between the rows, the ridges themselves are loosened and biocompost is regularly introduced.
Berries are covered with a layer of sawdust, mulch is regularly sprinkled.
Sawdust can be applied on top of the manure, which will retain moisture.

For loosening the soil, improving its structure and accelerating decomposition organic dressings it is worth launching earthworms on the ridges. Alexander Kuznetsov refutes the opinion that sawdust, like mulch, enrolls the soil, because they are brought on top of the soil. The soil is acidified not by sawdust, but by fungi that destroy them.

Sawdust is tightly laid in row-spacings on vegetable beds.

Advantages and disadvantages of mulching

Sawdust is a reliable means for warming crops. Mulch protects the roots from freezing in winter and rotting in autumn. In summer, sawdust is used to prevent overheating of the soil and moisture retention. The benefits of sawdust as mulch are as follows:

Cheapness.
As they decompose, they turn into organic fertilizers, loosen the soil.
Retain moisture in the soil.
They retain heat and prevent the soil from freezing, but at the same time allow air to pass through and allow the roots of crops to breathe.
Protect crops from disease. Sawdust, especially coniferous ones, do not allow the development of pathogens. Slugs and other pests dislike them.
Protect ripening berries from decay and pests.
Cured from fungal diseases.
Protect roots from sudden changes in temperature.
Coniferous sawdust protects carrots from carrot flies.
Beneficial insects hide in the mulch and microorganisms live that improve the structure of the soil and loosen it.

Sawdust is a natural mulch that supports the growth and development of beneficial microorganisms to improve soil structure.

Mulching with sawdust has its drawbacks. Large sawdust rot for several years. This takes a lot of nitrogen, as a result of which plants that grow on such beds are deficient in this nutrient. Their growth and development is deteriorating.

Fresh sawdust increases the acidity of the soil, which affects the development of crops. Coniferous sawdust inhibits the development of pathogenic and beneficial microorganisms. The latter are recycled organic matter which are essential for plant nutrition.

When to use sawdust on the ridges

Sawdust is suitable for poor soil. They enrich the earth, activate the growth and ripening of fruits. Under a layer of mulch root system protected, it receives all the minerals and moisture. Mulching is carried out after the descent of sprouts. As a result of this, the earth does not dry out, a crust does not appear on the surface, and the soil remains loose.

In summer, vegetable beds with tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots and beets are covered with sawdust. This prevents crops from drying out.

Mulching strawberries has many advantages:

Productivity increases.
The berries are protected from pests and decay.
Due to the lack of contact with the ground, the berries are clean and dry.
Stops the growth of weeds.

Tip #1 Mulch beds with potatoes. After hilling, furrows are sprinkled. A layer of mulch retains moisture and stops weeds from growing. Productivity increases, especially the effect is noticeable during dry summers.

Mulching trees and shrubs

Sawdust is used to cover the roots of trees and shrubs for the winter. Such shelter is considered the most reliable. Large sawdust as a heat-insulating material is buried in pits when planting grapes and flowering shrubs. They reliably protect from frost.

Sawdust is poured around the tree trunk in a large layer.

Sawdust mulching is suitable for the following horticultural crops:

fruit trees;
shrubs (raspberries and black currants);
grapes;
clematis.

Raspberries respond especially well to mulching. Sawdust helps to increase fruiting and improve the taste characteristics of berries. With annual mulching with raspberry sawdust, bushes are grown without replanting for up to 10 years. For the winter, vines of grapes and weaving flowers that are on the ground are covered with sawdust along the entire length. They do this in late autumn, otherwise mice will get into the mulch and damage the culture.

Tip #2 Before mulching, it is advisable to apply nitrogen fertilizers.

Sometimes an air cover is made for such crops. Boxes are built from boards and plants are covered with them, they are covered with sawdust from above, covered with foil and a layer of earth is poured. There is a wet shelter with sawdust for the winter when the mulch is not covered with anything. But this method is suitable for some crops, for example, roses rot under such cover.

Sawdust is one type of mulch that can be used in greenhouses. Cultures do not rot and deteriorate. They are used to enrich manure and plant waste. They accelerate decomposition organic fertilizers, the compost is loose and breathable.

Mulch is added to greenhouses in spring or autumn. Sawdust is best applied in combination with other components. This mixture is laid in the fall in the ridge. You can make compost:

200 kg sawdust;
50 kg of manure;
100 kg of grass;
30 kg of food waste.

For greenhouses, sawdust can be placed in ridges in combination with straw or hay.

In the spring, the soil is mulched when the increased growth of crops begins. In greenhouses, during heavy irrigation, a crust often forms on the surface of the soil, and the earth around the roots is washed out. In this case, it is necessary to mulch the soil. In addition, mulching reduces the rate of watering and prevents overheating of the root system of crops in the greenhouse.

Tip #3 For a greenhouse measuring 3x6 m, six bags of coniferous sawdust will be required. Mulch is spread in a layer of 5-7 cm between the rows and around the stems of crops.

How to mulch beds in winter

In winter, the beds are mulched with a mixture of sawdust, manure and plants. The thickness of the layer depends on the type of soil. On clay, it reaches 5 cm, and on sandy - 10 cm. When mulching, the following recommendations are followed:

Under the berry bushes, the mulch is never removed. The earth is loosened along with sawdust. With absence chemical fertilizers mulch is mixed with manure and applied in the fall. This prevents the accumulation of nitrates in the fruit.
If you put a large layer of mulch on heavy soils, rotting will begin.
Be sure to mulch the soil in summer or late spring after planting seedlings. The mulch is carefully crushed and laid around the gathering place. The results of mulching are noticeable after 3-4 years, since the sawdust decomposes slowly.

Answers to frequently asked questions about mulching

Question number 1. What sawdust is best for mulching?

Sawdust comes in different sizes and different breeds trees. Depending on their properties, they are used in various fields gardening. We present them in the table.

Type of sawdust	Application area
Gray-brown semi-rotted sawdust of medium size	They are the best for mulching. vegetable beds.
large sawdust	Used to cover the roots of trees, strawberries and shrubs.
small sawdust	Suitable for sheltering young shoots with thin stems.
Fresh sawdust	Suitable for mulching strawberries and strawberries.
sawdust from conifers trees	Used for carrots.

Question number 2. What crops are sawdust used for?

Mulching garden strawberries with sawdust on the ridge

Question number 3. Under what crops is it better to use coniferous sawdust?

Coniferous sawdust contains phenolic resins that protect against diseases and pests. They are suitable for sheltering crops for the winter, such as garlic.

Question number 4. Is it necessary to mulch the soil in greenhouses?

Yes. The soil fertility improves, the soil does not overheat, the irrigation rate decreases, and moisture evaporates more slowly. The crops are even watered cold water while it passes through the sawdust, it will warm up. The preservation of fruits, taste qualities are improved and the ripening period is accelerated.

Question number 5. What is the timing of mulching?

Late spring or early summer is suitable for mulching, when the earth warms up and crop sprouts appear. Before mulching, the soil is fertilized, loosened and watered abundantly. A layer of mulch is at least 5 cm. In summer, as the layer decreases, mulch is added.

Mulching gardening mistakes

We offer a spread of errors that gardeners make when mulching with sawdust:

It is important to choose the right size and type of sawdust. The younger the seedlings and the thinner the sprouts, the finer the chips. But sawdust similar to wood flour is not used at all. It turns into a dense crust on the soil surface, which does not allow water to pass through.
Large sawdust rot for several years. They are not suitable for vegetable beds. Use shavings for trees and shrubs.
Before making mulch on the beds, nitrogen fertilizers must be used, otherwise the growth and development of crops will slow down.
Use rotted sawdust. Fresh ones increase the acidity of the soil, which negatively affects the development of crops.
Do not rush to mulch. If you make sawdust on unheated soil, this will affect the growth and development of crops.

Harm of wood waste
What sawdust to use
Several fertilizer recipes
Recipe 1: wood and ash
Fertilizer from fresh sawdust
Mulching according to the rules
Strawberries and wild strawberries
How to cover roses
Sawdust for seedlings

Mulching - surface covering of the soil of the garden and vegetable garden with mulch, which can be crushed bark, pine needles, sawdust and others natural materials. This agricultural technique avoids many health problems. cultivated plants on the ground and in the greenhouse. The use of sawdust as a mulch leads to amazing results in the development of a plant, but only if certain rules are followed.

Properties of wood chips and shavings

Sawdust mulch is suitable for use on all types of soil.

What is good about this material:

It does not release moisture from the ground, thereby helping to maintain the balance of water in the dry season and in hot areas.
Does not allow weeds to grow. This is one of the main reasons for the use of wood waste as a mulching powder.
Fresh sawdust is used as bedding for berries - the smell of wood repels some pests from the fruit, and small chips keep strawberries and strawberries clean.
Soil mulching allows the roots of some plants to survive winter period.
sawdust serve as fertilizer. True, for this you need to fulfill some conditions.

It is worth noting that mulching with sawdust cannot be done in the form in which they are. The fact is that wood does not saturate the soil with useful substances, but, on the contrary, draws them out, like a sponge. Sawdust material becomes useful if it is added to the main mixtures for fertilizer or kept for a year or two in compost heap. At this time, bacteria settle on the surface of the chips, which saturate the wood with useful microelements released during decay and reproduction of microflora.

What are the benefits and possible harm?

Sawdust is often used by gardeners to improve the quality of plant life, but not always a person knows about the true benefits of taking it and is unable to accurately assess its harm. However, in most cases, a positive effect is still obtained from their use.

Advantages of sawdust:

With proper preparation, an excellent humus is obtained, similar in properties to traditional manure, which, as you know, costs a lot.
Sawdust scattered on paths in the garden prevents the spread of weeds.
Retain moisture in the soil, especially in spring. To do this, it is necessary to mulch the ground in the fall.
Contribute to the natural aeration of the soil a few years after use.
Coniferous shavings and chips practically do not tolerate pathogenic microbes, which eliminates the risk of plant infection.

Harm of wood waste

sawdust in pure form- not fertilizer. They absorb minerals from the soil, and the soil becomes depleted. From the fertile layer, nitrogen is drawn out, which is necessary for the vital activity of microorganism.
Fresh sawdust oxidizes the soil.
The use of sawdust of unknown origin can lead to infection of plants with diseases. To eliminate this risk, material should not be taken from dubious sources.

What sawdust to use

Shavings different trees Not suitable for all plants

Good for crops waste deciduous trees, except for oak.
Conifers saturate the soil with acid, therefore they are accepted only by lovers of such an environment - tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots and others.

Several fertilizer recipes

Sawdust in its pure form is used only for filling paths in order to retain moisture and stop the development of weeds. In other cases, the preparation of raw materials is required.

In order for sawdust in the garden to become useful, they need to rot. For the desired condition, they will have to lie down for at least 10 years in a heap, while the bacteria process the wood into a useful substrate. You can speed up the process - you need to make compost from sawdust. In combination with manure and additional additives, the fertilizer ripens faster due to thermoregulation in the desired range and maintaining a sufficient level of humidity.

We offer several recipes for making fertilizer from sawdust, which are used by gardeners throughout the country. It is recommended to bookmark from the beginning of summer as the necessary material arrives.

Recipe 1: wood and ash

Lay down:

Wood sawdust - 200 kg;
Urea rich in nitrogen (up to 47%) - 2.5 kg per pile;
Ash necessary for alkalization of the soil - 10 kg;
Water - 50 liters;
Grass, food waste and drains - up to 100 kg.

Shavings and grass are laid in layers, ash is added and the “pie” is poured with urea dissolved in water. You can cover the pile with polyethylene film, but small pores should remain on the surface: this way the temperature and humidity level will be optimal, and oxygen will remain available.

Recipe 2: Enriched with organics

For poor soil that requires a significant dose of fertilizer, prepare this compost from sawdust:

Wood waste - 200 kg;
Cow dung - 50 kg;
Fresh cut grass - 100 kg;
Organic waste (food, feces) - 30 kg;
Humates - 1 drop per 100 liters of water (no more).

When this fertilizer ripens, a significant amount of nitrogen is released.

Fertilizer from fresh sawdust

As already mentioned, fresh sawdust does not benefit the soil as a fertilizer for the garden. If you have not done composting in advance, but it is necessary to saturate the soil, use a sawdust mixture with the following additives per bucket of wood chips:

Ammonium nitrate - 40 g;
Granular superphosphate - 30 g;
Slaked lime - 120 g (glass);
Calcium chloride - 10 g.

The mixture must be infused for 2 weeks. To do this, spread polyethylene on the street and sprinkle the ingredients on it.

Mix, leave to highlight the necessary elements and carry out chemical reactions. After that, add the resulting mixture to the soil when digging the beds. The earth will receive a sufficient dose of ammonia, the acid-base balance of the soil will be leveled, the release of useful substances will occur immediately after the first watering. Fertilize the soil should be in the amount of 2-3 buckets per 1 square meter site. This procedure contributes to the natural loosening of the soil.

Mulching according to the rules

Sawdust in the country is useful not only to speed up the composting process, but also to winter shelter plants, their fertilizers and protection against pests.

Prepared sawdust as a mulch is good to use in the first half of summer, when seedlings and plants are just gaining strength, they need protection from weeds, soil moisture loss and disease attacks. By the middle of summer, there will be no obvious trace of the powder - it will be mixed with the earth by rains and worms.

Basically, sawdust saturated with fertilizers is lined in the aisles. This must be done between the beds with tomatoes, potato rows and other plants.

Other vegetables grown in the garden - onions, carrots, beets, garlic, turnips - also need a protective powder. It must be done after picking, when the plantings are thinned out and have reached a height of 5–7 cm, for them a layer of sawdust is lined by 3–4 cm.

Raspberries are one of the main lovers of mulching in the garden. It is necessary to maintain the soil moisture necessary for tying berries. Prepared sawdust is plentifully poured under the bushes.

Strawberries and wild strawberries

Is it possible to mulch strawberries with sawdust? The answer is unequivocal - you need it, just like strawberries. This procedure is useful for berries:

Sawdust keeps the moisture balance in the soil.
Tender fruits remain clean without touching the ground.
Slugs and snails do not crawl on the berries.

For mulching, clean sawdust without impurities is needed, but before the procedure it is important to saturate the soil with minerals and fertilize well to prevent the impoverishment of the fertile layer. The material used can be mixed with urea in the above proportions.

Sawdust is moistened and laid out under the bushes, under each branch and between the stems. The layer thickness should be 5–7 cm. This work is presented in the video.

Backfilling is done when the seedlings are already rooted and have gained a height of more than 7 cm. Mulching strawberries with sawdust for the winter will help perennial plant it is better to survive the cold and keep the root system intact.

How to cover roses

Gardeners say: “A rose is a child of manure,” because sawdust is necessary for it as a fertilizer, but they are not suitable as a protective layer. Such mulch does not have sufficient heat-retaining performance.

Shelter of roses with sawdust can be used for wintering only in combination with other, more effective materials. The expert will talk about it in detail in the video.

Sawdust for seedlings

Tomatoes and other seedlings now often appear in the garden not as seeds, but as ready-made seedlings. They can also be bred in small wood waste - such an environment is more favorable for a tender seed than soil.

How to properly organize the process:

Moistened small chips are poured into a flat container.
Seeds are planted, generously filled with fertilizer, since there is nothing nutritious in the sawdust.
Cover with a film, make holes for air and expose to the sun.
When sprouts appear, soil is poured on top so that the plant gets used to it.

Then, as they grow, the seedlings are transferred to a separate pot already with summer cottage soil.

The advantage of germinating seeds in wood material- a loose environment that allows the root system of seedlings to develop intensively, but only if there is an adequate supply of nutrients.

Many gardeners and gardeners have long been practicing such an agricultural technique as mulching. Thanks to him, many different problems are solved in the economy. What does mulching mean and how to do it with sawdust? We will try to answer this question in this article.

The technology of using mulching, as one of the most effective agricultural practices, has long been recognized by many amateur and professional gardeners. Mulching refers to covering the upper soil horizon or layer with mulch.

Can be used as mulch various materials organic and inorganic origin.

This technique helps to protect the soil and the plants in it from the winter cold, and also helps to improve its structure. To obtain a high yield and maintain the health of the plant organism, it is simply impossible to do without mulching.

In most cases, mulch can be films, fallen autumn leaves and various bulk materials. As for the fallen autumn leaves is a good covering material of organic origin. The film type of covering material is also widely used by gardeners; it can be purchased at many retail outlets. Loose mulch is mainly organic materials, different composition.

AT national economy the function of loose mulch can be performed by:

Peat.
Potato peelings.
Husks of plants.
Compost.
Sawdust and more.

Mulching the soil and plants for the winter is one of the main activities that contribute to the preservation of plant life during the winter frosts. Through the use of this agricultural method in the soil, spring moisture is retained by absorbing materials. And as you know, without it, it will be difficult for plants to start growing after a long period of rest.

Mulching features:

Many gardeners and gardeners use mulch as an excellent fighter against growing weeds. For this purpose, they do not remove covering material until late spring, as a result of which there is a significant slowdown in the growth of weeds in these soil areas.
By practicing mulching in your summer cottage, you can create additional protection for plant roots from summer overheating, as well as from winter hypothermia. This is very important to ensure the growth of the plant organism during these periods.
At the same time, mulching helps protect berry and vegetable crops from soil pollution. So, using a covering material on the soil, it is possible to prevent contamination of fragile strawberries with soil particles. Thus, the berries will be clean, and they will not need to be thoroughly washed from particles of dirt with numerous microorganisms.
Mulching technology favorably affects the protection of the upper fertile soil layer from spring leaching. This is especially important for gardeners whose plots are not on flat ground, but on various kinds of slopes. This will preserve the nutrients in the soil.
Many organic materials used as mulch provide a favorable environment for soil organisms such as earthworms. By moving and mixing the organic mulch material with the upper soil horizon, good conditions for the life of such worms, whose benefits for plant growth are simply invaluable.
Mulching helps to create a protective layer on the surface of the earth, thanks to which a hard crust does not form on it. And as you know, it prevents the penetration of moisture and air into the lower soil layers, thereby inhibiting the germination and growth of plants available in this area.
And the most amazing advantage of mulching is its use as a decoration for your site. For these purposes, a special decorative mulch is produced, which creates the effect of plants being on the site during the period late autumn or early spring.

All of the above advantages, which are provided by the use of such agrotechnical measures as mulching on the site, can solve many problems with plant growth and facilitate the work of gardeners and gardeners.

The use of sawdust as a mulch has long been used by many plant growers. And this is no accident! After all, sawdust mulch has many advantages that allow gardeners to choose it as a covering material in the winter.

Consider the main advantages of soil mulching with sawdust:

Firstly, the use of sawdust mulch is one of the cheapest materials for this technology. For those who live near forest plantations, where there is a lot of dead wood, it is not difficult to prepare sawdust. And if any of the woodworking enterprises is located next to you, then when you come there, you will be generously presented with this material of any kind.
Secondly, sawdust, especially coniferous, is not a favorable environment for the reproduction of various pathogens. This advantage allows us to consider sawdust as a good sterile material. Fresh sawdust repels many crop pests, especially snails and slugs. The rough surface of sawdust is unbearable for their movement.
Thirdly, by using sawdust materials as mulch on your site, you contribute to the saturation of the soil layer with spring moisture. The amount of this moisture especially increases when sawdust of the smallest sizes is used. Providing the soil with these hygroscopic properties is favorable for early plant growth. In addition, the small sizes of sawdust are quickly impregnated not only with moisture, but also with solutions of liquid fertilizers, while they themselves decompose faster. Thus, the use of sawdust will not only preserve the plants during the winter cold, but also contributes to the saturation of the soil with moisture.

Mulching the soil layer with sawdust is one of the best heat-insulating materials. Many of us insulate our summer cottages and buildings with the help of sawdust.

Wood waste not only serves as a good insulation material, but also contribute to the passage of air through itself, which is necessary for the growth and development of the plants under it.

So, having considered the main advantages of sawdust mulch, we can conclude that its use solves many problems in agricultural cultivation various plants. In addition, the technology for using this type of mulch is very simple and affordable.

According to its structure, sawdust mulch can be of different sizes, composition and production time. In this regard, it may have some differences in properties. Based on this fact, each type of sawdust mulch should be used for its intended purpose.

Many users this material as a mulching, it was noted that half-rotted sawdust is the most favorable. Usually they have a gray-brown color and are also called "horse" sawdust. This name is associated with the place where they lie, usually they are taken out of the places where horses are kept (stables), where they used to play the role of bedding. The secondary use of sawdust in this way makes their presence on the farm mandatory. By structure, they are of medium size, due to which they do not cake and ensure the penetration of moisture and air into the lower layers of the earth.

Sawdust that is very small in size should not be used on the beds, as they can cake into lumps and form a crust on the soil surface.

Using sawdust of large sizes as a mulch, it contributes to the formation of a very thick and rather loose sawdust layer on the surface of the earth. Such a layer is quite difficult to compact, as the stems of plants in it may suffer. Therefore, the structure of the sawdust mulch directly depends on the age of the plants to be covered: the finer the structure of the sawdust, the younger the plant organisms to be covered. Larger sawdust should not be thrown away, considering them not the right material. They are well suited for sheltering for the winter growing near the house. ornamental shrubs or fruit trees.

Freshly made sawdust mulch is ideal for covering strawberry and strawberry plants. The outgoing smell of fresh wood is unpleasant and has a deterrent effect on many types of garden and garden pests. For example, using wood waste from coniferous trees on carrot beds as mulch, you can forget about such a pest as a carrot fly, because its coniferous aroma is very unpleasant. Sawdust also protects the berries lying on them from soil dirt.

For strawberries, sawdust is successfully used as a covering material. The technology of mulching them in the beds is very simple. First you need to weed all the beds from the weeds on them. Next, you need to spread layers of newsprint between the strawberry bushes.

Usually to ensure extra strength Newspapers are spread out in two layers. These layers are covered with prepared sawdust, up to five centimeters thick. Mulching completed. Now the beds will not only be protected from the winter cold, saved from the loss of spring moisture, but will not need additional weeding.

More information can be found in the video.

An old well-known gardening trick sawdust mulching borrowed from nature. In forests, the soil, and therefore the roots of plants, are reliably protected by a natural mantle of plant dead materials from drying out, erosion and washing out. In the same way, you can protect. In addition to sawdust, when mulching, pieces of bark, chips, leaves, paper, grass, film, and fine gravel are used mainly in decorations.
I invite you to the group on Subscribe.ru for summer residents, gardeners: "Country hobbies"

Mulching with sawdust

Mulching with sawdust, advantages

Mulching with sawdust perfectly enriches the poor soil, which cannot give plants, even with numerous ovaries, necessary materials contributing to the development and ripening of fruits. A layer of mulch allows the root system to develop by absorbing and absorbing moisture. In addition, the surface layer of the soil does not harden, the earth remains in a loose state, which allows the roots to “breathe”.

Mulching with sawdust is comparable to arranging a paradise for soil and surface bacteria. Hidden from hitting straight sun rays, they absorb a large number of mulch, which after processing turns into fertile soil. Among other things, the covering material is an ideal environment for soil insects and other organisms that are involved in improving the soil structure.

Mulching with tomato sawdust, for example, is especially necessary in areas with prolonged droughts. After all, open ground heats up faster and to a greater depth. Together with the earth, the roots of plants also heat up. Frequent watering is not a salvation, and in some cases even harmful (especially watering in daytime when water reaches the roots through hot soil). To preserve the crop, there is practically only one way out - to cover the soil with mulch.

A second example is mulching strawberries with sawdust. The use of this technique not only increases the yield, but also keeps the berries intact and clean, since they have no contact with the ground, which means there are no prerequisites for fruit rotting. And the collection of such strawberries is much more pleasant and convenient.

It remains to be added that such mulching prevents overheating of the earth in summer and prevents freezing in winter time. Mulch suppresses (or eliminates altogether) the growth of weeds.

For some crops, mulching is an essential agronomic practice of the growing process.

With its use, plants are more protected from freezing in winter, from heat and heat in summer.

Mulching inhibits weed growth and makes the soil less susceptible to excessive evaporation. Fruits, due to the lack of contact with the soil, are less damaged by diseases.

When applying this prim it is important to choose the right material for this important procedure. One option is sawdust mulching.

The use of sawdust has several advantages over other materials. These benefits are as follows:

How to prepare sawdust for mulching

For soil mulching, only sawdust is used, which can be taken at any wood processing plant or made by yourself using wood and a saw.

It is advisable to use them from deciduous trees, as fresh coniferous sawdust strongly oxidizes the soil.

The particles of this material can be of different sizes, and, consequently, the properties of the mulch will be different.

It is desirable to use medium-sized sawdust for mulch. Very fine particles often cake and form a crust or lumps on the soil surface. The large particle size of wood chips is also undesirable for use as a mulch on delicate garden plants.

But for mulching trees and shrubs large size sawdust will the best option.

Many summer residents are interested in the question of whether it is possible to mulch with fresh sawdust? A more favorable type of mulch for plants is half-rotted sawdust. This is due to the fact that fresh sawdust contains little nitrogen (0.5%) and is forced to take it from the soil.

Therefore, it is best to use rotted material from two years ago, or artificially accelerate its maturation by enriching it with nitrogen.

To do this, sawdust is poured with the following solution: 200 grams of urea diluted in a bucket of water. For the best impregnation the filled sawdust is periodically mixed.

Most gardeners prefer to recycle sawdust before use in compost pit.

How to mulch with sawdust, the nuances

Mulching the soil with sawdust should be carried out only after careful processing of the beds.

It is necessary to weed the weeds, trim the mustache and shoots (if it concerns strawberries or raspberries).

Some gardeners cover the beds with thin paper before mulching, this more thoroughly protects against the appearance of weeds.

The layer of sawdust is usually from 3 to 5 centimeters.

In the case of mulching with fresh sawdust, nitrogen fertilizers must be applied. Since they oxidize the soil, it is recommended to apply them with ash. A good effect gives the simultaneous use of the drug Baikal EM1.

When to mulch

Mulching with sawdust is used in autumn to protect plants from freezing. This method is suitable for perennial flowers, strawberries, shrubs and vegetables planted in winter.

But you need to remember that sawdust is a rather hygroscopic plant, and having absorbed moisture in the spring, they thaw for a long time, forming an ice crust. Therefore, such a shelter may not be suitable for all plants. For example, it is not advisable to use it on roses.

In spring, the procedure is carried out after careful processing of plants, removal of the old mulch cover, or digging it with soil.

Mulching strawberries with sawdust should be done before flowering. By the end of summer, due to exposure to sunlight, rain and wind, there will be very little sawdust in the beds.

In summer, mulching plants is highly undesirable. Since this will not allow perennials to properly prepare for winter.

What crops can be mulched with sawdust

Trees, shrubs, flowers are mulched with sawdust.

This material is used to cover beds with vegetables and berries; for this, the space between the beds is sprinkled with sawdust to reduce the growth of weeds.

For decorative mulching of flowers, trees or shrubs, sawdust of large fractions can be dyed in various colors. It gives a unique splendor landscape design.

Use this type of mulch for growing vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, onions, cucumbers. On carrots, the smell of sawdust prevents the appearance of carrot flies. To increase the yield of potatoes, mulching the distance between plants with sawdust after hilling gives a good effect.

In combination with nitrogen fertilizer this layer provides best height cultures.

Mulching with sawdust is inexpensive and effective method increasing crop yields, maintaining and increasing soil fertility, as well as giving the garden and garden an aesthetic look.

Article author: Elena Kozhukhova