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Sun, May 6, 12 at 20:05
| I live in new construction (circa 2006), so I've been amending Georgia red clay ever since I moved in to the house. That means no matter how much I begged, borrowed, and absconded with, I couldn't possibly come up with enough organic material to mulch away weeds. Until today. Through the mixed blessing of the real estate bust, I ended up with a vacant spec lot that contains over two dozen logs that have been rotting for at least five years. I was able to peel off huge pieces of bark by hand, probably two dozen wheelbarrow loads today, and that was just off the first couple of logs. I'll try to remember to snap some pics tomorrow and get them up here. Has anyone ever mulched with bark harvested off rotting logs? Would I be better served using the logs in hugulkultur beds or should I continue to grab what I can? |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by idaho_gardener 6a_sw_idaho (My Page) on Mon, May 7, 12 at 1:10
| Alan, as soon as you mentioned the two dozen rotting logs, I thought hugelkultur. Especially with your situation; clay soil in a warm climate. Truth is I just read about hugelkultur this week so I don't have experience with it, but it seems like an ideal solution to the implacable Georgia clay. |
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| If you are using this mulch near your house, look up "artillery fungus" and determine if it may become a problem in your location. There is also the possibility of importing termites; again, determine the risk in your area. |
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| Thanks, I generally use pine straw next to the house for those very reasons. And yes, termites are a huge problem in my area, we're currently using the "bait station" technique to keep them out. Oddly enough these logs appear to be termite free, though a stack of old pine lumber (I'm talking OLD "rough sawn" dimensional) adjacent to the logs has been destroyed (and houses a current infestation of termites). |
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| I tried the German Mound for the first time this year. Mine are quite small mounds, located where my tomatoes will go. The woody material, short dead limbs up to an inch or inch and a half, were soaked in rain water with a touch of blackstrap molasses for two days. Thin layers of soil, rough compost, and sifter compost raise the top of the mound about six to ten inches above the surrounding ground. Bokashi was put down at the bottom in several holes. Two benefits already noticeable -- the roots are above the saturated soil, plus it is easier to keep weeds away from tomatoes. Four years ago a two inch rainfall split 200 cherry toms open in one plant in one day. |
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