Posted by Rod Speed on February 13, 2010, 12:29 pm
FarmI wrote:
>> said...
>>> Jeßus wrote:
>>>> Based on past experiences, I tend to agree with the lady author you
>>>> know.
>>>>
>>>> Hard to put into words why - perhaps it just 'beds down' better
>>>> compared to the stiffer, fresher/bulkier material and so forms a
>>>> more effective covering, whilst at the same time providing some
>>>> organic material, bacteria etc. to the soil more quickly?
>>>
>>> Is what you you are using straw of hay? The two are not the same,
>>> they come form different sources, have different content and behave
>>> differently.
>>
>> Hmm... :)
>>
>> Well, So far I've been using a random mixture of small quantities of
>> straw/hay since moving here rather than a consistent type of hay or
>> straw from a regular source. I'll be ordering a large amount pretty
>> soon though.
>>
>> I *have* recently used a few bales of fresh 'oat straw', which I've
>> found is good to protect freshly transplanted plants (especially
>> sensitive young seedlings) from the sun and wind.
> All seedlings will do better with some mulch rather than none.
Thats very arguable if you dont care about the water use.
Posted by David Hare-Scott on February 13, 2010, 5:18 pm
Rod Speed wrote:
> FarmI wrote:
>>> said...
>>>> Jeßus wrote:
>>>>> Based on past experiences, I tend to agree with the lady author
>>>>> you know.
>>>>>
>>>>> Hard to put into words why - perhaps it just 'beds down' better
>>>>> compared to the stiffer, fresher/bulkier material and so forms a
>>>>> more effective covering, whilst at the same time providing some
>>>>> organic material, bacteria etc. to the soil more quickly?
>>>>
>>>> Is what you you are using straw of hay? The two are not the same,
>>>> they come form different sources, have different content and behave
>>>> differently.
>>>
>>> Hmm... :)
>>>
>>> Well, So far I've been using a random mixture of small quantities of
>>> straw/hay since moving here rather than a consistent type of hay or
>>> straw from a regular source. I'll be ordering a large amount pretty
>>> soon though.
>>>
>>> I *have* recently used a few bales of fresh 'oat straw', which I've
>>> found is good to protect freshly transplanted plants (especially
>>> sensitive young seedlings) from the sun and wind.
>>
>> All seedlings will do better with some mulch rather than none.
> Thats very arguable if you dont care about the water use.
I don't want to argue for the sake of it but even if you have an infinite
supply of cheap water you cannot always be there to apply it and timers do
not adapt to weather conditions unless you have a very sophisticated setup
with moisture sensors. Mulch will help retain moisture and cool the soil,
both are useful, without attention. Also as mulch degrades it feeds the
soil and improves its texture.
David
Posted by Rod Speed on February 13, 2010, 6:35 pm
David Hare-Scott wrote
> Rod Speed wrote
>> FarmI wrote
>>>>> Jeßus wrote
>>>>>> Based on past experiences, I tend to agree with the lady author you know.
>>>>>> Hard to put into words why - perhaps it just 'beds down' better
>>>>>> compared to the stiffer, fresher/bulkier material and so forms a
>>>>>> more effective covering, whilst at the same time providing some
>>>>>> organic material, bacteria etc. to the soil more quickly?
>>>>> Is what you you are using straw of hay? The two are not the same, they
come form different sources, have
>>>>> different content and behave differently.
>>>> Hmm... :)
>>>> Well, So far I've been using a random mixture of small quantities
>>>> of straw/hay since moving here rather than a consistent type of
>>>> hay or straw from a regular source. I'll be ordering a large
>>>> amount pretty soon though.
>>>> I *have* recently used a few bales of fresh 'oat straw', which I've
>>>> found is good to protect freshly transplanted plants (especially
>>>> sensitive young seedlings) from the sun and wind.
>>> All seedlings will do better with some mulch rather than none.
>> Thats very arguable if you dont care about the water use.
> I don't want to argue for the sake of it but even if you have an
> infinite supply of cheap water you cannot always be there to apply it and
timers do not adapt to weather conditions
> unless you have a very sophisticated setup with moisture sensors.
The only real effect of that is to use more water that you didnt actually need
to apply.
> Mulch will help retain moisture
Yes, but that doesnt matter if you dont care about the water you use.
> and cool the soil, both are useful,
Not necessarily.
> without attention.
> Also as mulch degrades it feeds the soil and improves its texture.
It can also make things worse.
Posted by David Hare-Scott on February 14, 2010, 2:28 am
Rod Speed wrote:
> David Hare-Scott wrote
>> Rod Speed wrote
>>> FarmI wrote
>>>>>> Jeßus wrote
>>>>>>> Based on past experiences, I tend to agree with the lady author
>>>>>>> you know.
>>>>>>> Hard to put into words why - perhaps it just 'beds down' better
>>>>>>> compared to the stiffer, fresher/bulkier material and so forms a
>>>>>>> more effective covering, whilst at the same time providing some
>>>>>>> organic material, bacteria etc. to the soil more quickly?
>>>>>> Is what you you are using straw of hay? The two are not the
>>>>>> same, they come form different sources, have different content
>>>>>> and behave differently.
>>>>> Hmm... :)
>>>>> Well, So far I've been using a random mixture of small quantities
>>>>> of straw/hay since moving here rather than a consistent type of
>>>>> hay or straw from a regular source. I'll be ordering a large
>>>>> amount pretty soon though.
>>>>> I *have* recently used a few bales of fresh 'oat straw', which
>>>>> I've found is good to protect freshly transplanted plants
>>>>> (especially sensitive young seedlings) from the sun and wind.
>>>> All seedlings will do better with some mulch rather than none.
>>> Thats very arguable if you dont care about the water use.
>> I don't want to argue for the sake of it but even if you have an
>> infinite supply of cheap water you cannot always be there to apply
>> it and timers do not adapt to weather conditions unless you have a
>> very sophisticated setup with moisture sensors.
> The only real effect of that is to use more water that you didnt
> actually need to apply.
I don't understand this. Are you saying that mulch causes you to use more
water? Please explain.
>> Mulch will help retain moisture
> Yes, but that doesnt matter if you dont care about the water you use.
I haven't yet found a situation where I don't care how much water I used,
when are you in this situation?
>> and cool the soil, both are useful,
> Not necessarily.
What do you mean?
>> without attention.
>> Also as mulch degrades it feeds the soil and improves its texture.
> It can also make things worse.
How? When?
David
Posted by Rod Speed on February 14, 2010, 3:55 am
David Hare-Scott wrote
> Rod Speed wrote
>> David Hare-Scott wrote
>>> Rod Speed wrote
>>>> FarmI wrote
>>>>>>> Jeßus wrote
>>>>>>>> Based on past experiences, I tend to agree with the lady author you
know.
>>>>>>>> Hard to put into words why - perhaps it just 'beds down' better
>>>>>>>> compared to the stiffer, fresher/bulkier material and so forms
>>>>>>>> a more effective covering, whilst at the same time providing
>>>>>>>> some organic material, bacteria etc. to the soil more quickly?
>>>>>>> Is what you you are using straw of hay? The two are not the
>>>>>>> same, they come form different sources, have different content
>>>>>>> and behave differently.
>>>>>> Hmm... :)
>>>>>> Well, So far I've been using a random mixture of small quantities
>>>>>> of straw/hay since moving here rather than a consistent type of
>>>>>> hay or straw from a regular source. I'll be ordering a large
>>>>>> amount pretty soon though.
>>>>>> I *have* recently used a few bales of fresh 'oat straw', which
>>>>>> I've found is good to protect freshly transplanted plants
>>>>>> (especially sensitive young seedlings) from the sun and wind.
>>>>> All seedlings will do better with some mulch rather than none.
>>>> Thats very arguable if you dont care about the water use.
>>> I don't want to argue for the sake of it but even if you have an
>>> infinite supply of cheap water you cannot always be there to apply
>>> it and timers do not adapt to weather conditions unless you have a
>>> very sophisticated setup with moisture sensors.
>> The only real effect of that is to use more water that you didnt actually
need to apply.
> I don't understand this.
OK.
> Are you saying that mulch causes you to use more water?
Nope, that the worst a less sophisticated setup with no moisture sensors
does is waste some water that did not need to have been applied.
> Please explain.
Just did, Pauline.
>>> Mulch will help retain moisture
>> Yes, but that doesnt matter if you dont care about the water you use.
> I haven't yet found a situation where I don't care how much water I used, when
are you in this situation?
When the extra water doesnt cost you a cent.
>>> and cool the soil, both are useful,
>> Not necessarily.
> What do you mean?
Cooler soil isnt always desirable.
>>> without attention.
>>> Also as mulch degrades it feeds the soil and improves its texture.
>> It can also make things worse.
> How? When?
When the decomposition of the mulch uses up nutrients etc.
It can also be a haven for undesirable pests and diseases as well.
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>>> Jeßus wrote:
>>>> Based on past experiences, I tend to agree with the lady author you
>>>> know.
>>>>
>>>> Hard to put into words why - perhaps it just 'beds down' better
>>>> compared to the stiffer, fresher/bulkier material and so forms a
>>>> more effective covering, whilst at the same time providing some
>>>> organic material, bacteria etc. to the soil more quickly?
>>>
>>> Is what you you are using straw of hay? The two are not the same,
>>> they come form different sources, have different content and behave
>>> differently.
>>
>> Hmm... :)
>>
>> Well, So far I've been using a random mixture of small quantities of
>> straw/hay since moving here rather than a consistent type of hay or
>> straw from a regular source. I'll be ordering a large amount pretty
>> soon though.
>>
>> I *have* recently used a few bales of fresh 'oat straw', which I've
>> found is good to protect freshly transplanted plants (especially
>> sensitive young seedlings) from the sun and wind.
> All seedlings will do better with some mulch rather than none.