Mulch and Rain
We all know the value of mulch to retain soil moisture for the long hot summers that were predicted for 2001/02 and that we have experienced over the last few years. However this year has been different. It has rained and rained. Mulch, while reducing the moisture loss from the soil, provides us with two more benefits. Firstly it rots down slowly and provides nutrients for the garden. Secondly and very importantly this year it protects the soil from being broken down into powder by the impact of rain drops.
Mulch protects the soil structure from being ruined. When heavy rain drops strike the bare soil they impact very hard on the soil structure. This breaks the soil ‘crumbs’ down into the fine particles that make up the soil. The best way to see this is to have a look at a piece of bare land and noting the smooth flat finish to the soil. This means that the soil structure has broken down and the humus, the glue that holds the particles together in the crumbs, has been dislodged. This ruined soil structure is not what gardeners need for a great garden. Gardeners will have top work hard to rebuild the good soil structure.
Now have a look under a mulched area and note that the soil structure is nice and ‘crumby’ because it has been protected from the pounding of the rain by the mulch.
Mulch therefore is an excellent gardening practice to preserve soil moisture, add nutrients and protect and enhance soil structure.
Mulch protects the soil structure from being ruined. When heavy rain drops strike the bare soil they impact very hard on the soil structure. This breaks the soil ‘crumbs’ down into the fine particles that make up the soil. The best way to see this is to have a look at a piece of bare land and noting the smooth flat finish to the soil. This means that the soil structure has broken down and the humus, the glue that holds the particles together in the crumbs, has been dislodged. This ruined soil structure is not what gardeners need for a great garden. Gardeners will have top work hard to rebuild the good soil structure.
Now have a look under a mulched area and note that the soil structure is nice and ‘crumby’ because it has been protected from the pounding of the rain by the mulch.
Mulch therefore is an excellent gardening practice to preserve soil moisture, add nutrients and protect and enhance soil structure.