Mulching is an agricultural technique that plays a large role in the cultivation of strawberries. About the features of the process, the types of mulch used for berries, as well as step-by-step instructions - later in the article.
What is mulching?
Mulching is the coating of the free surface of the soil between rows of berry and vegetable crops with a protective organic layer or film (fiber).
The following positive aspects of mulch are noted:
- some of its species perform a nutritional function, enriching depleted soil;
- retains moisture, reduces its evaporation;
- in the mulched layer, sharp temperature changes are not so noticeable, therefore, metabolic processes proceed at an accelerated pace;
- prevents the germination of weed grass, as well as the hardening of the surface layer, the formation of a hard crust;
- prevention of the development of gray rot on berries, because they do not touch the ground.
- strawberries are mulched for the winter so that it does not freeze and the soil is enriched with nutrients.
However, the procedure has disadvantages:
- It can provoke the appearance of snails and slugs on the site. On a hot day, wet mulch is often for them the only refuge in which they find food - decaying organic matter. However, there is a way out - in areas with a large population of mollusks use wood materials - needles or sawdust.
- A layer of mulch made from long-lasting materials can do a disservice to plants in return frosts. The aboveground part becomes a “weak link” and is extremely sensitive to frost, since all the heat will be stored in the soil.
- Rotting of the root system, the development of fungal diseases - all this is noted in the summer with a lot of rainfall or when laying mulch on heavy clay soil. However, a correctly selected method of mulching and the thickness of the mulch layer and constant monitoring of the site solves this problem. In light soils, the layer thickness is 10 cm, in heavy soils - 5-8 cm, in case of clay soils, the mulch layer should not exceed 2 cm.
- Some gardeners and gardeners believe that the site treated with mulch attracts various rodents, birds and insects. This is a very controversial statement, since a garden with a variety of vegetable, berry and fruit trees is itself a place of attraction for different animals.
Mulching is done in several ways:
- Inorganic - covering the soil with a film or a fibrous cloth;
- Organic - filling the soil with organic material.
The choice of method depends on the type of soil, weather conditions and purpose.
Experienced gardeners are advised to carry out this procedure 2 times a year - in the summer and late autumn.
For summer mulching, crushed materials are used. Strawberry bushes fall asleep when the first ovaries begin to form on them. This helps protect the peduncles from touching the ground. Mulch is removed from the beds after harvesting or at the end of the summer, folding it into a compost pit.
Mulched strawberries are watered less - watering is reduced by 1/3, it is carried out in the morning, so that the mulch has time to dry in the evening.
Organic Mulching
The following organic materials are used as mulch when processing strawberries.
Sawdust and chips
They are used for winter and summer mulching. It is better to stop your choice on sawdust of deciduous trees. In winter, they are processed faster. However, it should be remembered that sawdust from chipboard is not suitable for this purpose, since they contain harmful resins that are dangerous to humans.
Also, use fresh sawdust with caution. They draw nitrogen from the soil, which is necessary in normal amounts for the growth and development of strawberries, and acidify the soil. To avoid negative effects, they are shed with a urea solution - 200 g of substance are dissolved in 10 l of water. Or use material that has been rotted over several seasons without any fear.
The mulching algorithm is as follows:
- the land is freed from weeds and well loosened;
- lay two layers of newspapers with an overlap;
- pour a layer of sawdust or shavings.
The layer of mulch should be at least 5 cm, leave it for 2 years. During this period, the wood material completely decays, and the procedure is repeated. Since sawdust absorbs water very well, it is necessary to water the berry plantation abundantly. As long as the sawdust is not saturated with enough water, moisture will not fall into the ground.
They are not suitable as a power source due to the rather slow decomposition. However, they are an excellent obstacle for slugs and snails on the way to the bushes, due to their roughness.
Humus and compost
Ideal components for winter mulch. They warm the earth well and supply nutrients to it. The disadvantage of this material is only one - it is very quickly processed by soil inhabitants, therefore it requires regular backfilling. Before use, it must be sieved, removing stones and accidentally trash. The layer is poured at least 5-7 cm.
Bumps
If the site is located next to the forest, then you should go to it and stock up on cones. Material for mulch is collected from the ground. They are laid out under the bushes in a dense layer - 3-5 cm. They rot for a long time, so the layer is rarely updated. They protect the culture well from bad weather conditions, retain moisture in the soil and give the beds an unusual decorative look.
Coniferous litter
The needles contain a large concentration of volatile, which have bactericidal properties. They reliably protect plants from pathogenic microorganisms and harmful insects.
In areas with hot summers, it is not advisable to use needles of conifers, as they do not prevent soil overheating and do not stop the growth of weeds. Empirically, it was proved that in order to drown the growth of weed grass, the thickness of the layer of coniferous mulch should be at least 30 cm
Usually mulch the soil with yellowish pine needles. The height of the layer is 3-5 cm. In the spring it is removed or embedded in the ground.
A significant drawback of the needles is its effect on the acidity of the soil. It increases it, so before applying the mulch, slaked lime is first applied to the soil. Then annually 2 times a year - dolomite flour or ash, or alternate it with other mulching materials - straw, peat or humus.
Lowland peat
Why should preference be given to lowland peat rather than highland peat? Peat peat significantly increases the acidity of the soil, with irregular watering it forms a hard crust, which is poorly wetted by water.
Low peat protects the soil from changes in temperature and weathering, prevents weed grass from growing, retains moisture, and has a positive effect on soil structure and properties. For example, clay soils become loose over time, and sandy soils become moisture-intensive. Crushed or compressed peat is crushed before use to a loose state. If it is waterlogged, then it must be dried. The peat layer for mulching strawberries is 6-8 cm.
Straw and hay
Specialists do not recommend using hay. It quickly overheats, decays and cakes. As a mulch, it is better to take straw. It does not nourish the soil, but insulates it and retains moisture. On the other hand, it actively draws nitrogen from the soil, so it is usually used in tandem with rotted manure or compost.
In late autumn, they cover it with strawberries in the warm regions of the country to prevent freezing of bushes in winter. In the central and northwestern regions, it is better to mulch it in the spring, since during winter mulching the earth will not warm up well in the spring, and plant development will be delayed for at least 2 weeks.
Mulch is introduced only after strawberries are fed with fertilizers. The thickness of the straw layer is 15-20 cm. The straw shelter is to the taste of rodents, they gladly twist their nests in it, so it is worth strengthening control over the site.
Weeds and Mowed Lawn
This material is always available in the summer, and it is an alternative to straw, but when rotted, it also nourishes the soil. The green part of the weedless grass is laid under the bushes without seeds, otherwise hordes of weeds occupy all the plantings. The layer is 3-5 cm. To prevent mowed grass from becoming a source of fungal infections in rainy weather, it must be dried in the sun for 2-3 days before use, turning from one side to the other.
Fallen leaves
Leaves are collected either in their own garden or in the forest. They do not have nutritional value, but perfectly improve the structure of the soil - make it more loose, increasing air and water permeability. The layer should be at least 3-5 cm, then it will protect the berry culture from drying out in the hot period, restrain the growth of weed grass and prevent contamination of the fruit.
Leaves are used only in the summer, as in the autumn with a large amount of rainfall they decay and are sources of the spread of fungal diseases. Over time, they, like needles, begin to acidify the soil.
Foliage containing tannins inhibits the development of culture. The leaves of oak, willow, walnut, aspen are rich in these substances, so they are not used. Before you put the leaves in the aisles, you must make sure that they are not infected by pests and diseases. Many insects move to fallen leaves for the winter, and pathogenic microorganisms may also be there.
Shredded bark
This is the most “long-playing” material that lasts about 5 years and is used in the fall. Larch or pine bark is crushed to medium or small size. It has few tannins, so it does not negatively affect the growth of the plant and does not acidify the soil.
The mulch layer should be 5-7 cm thick. The bark protects the root system well from cold and overheating, but it retains moisture poorly. Straw-barked strawberry plantation needs more frequent watering.
Inorganic mulch
Inorganic materials are also used.
Film (agrofibre)
For strawberries use black plastic wrap. The following process advantages are distinguished:
- the film maintains a constant water level in the soil;
- helps to keep berries clean and of high quality;
- facilitates harvesting;
- 2 ° C increases the temperature of the soil;
- the bushes lined with black agrofibre take root more quickly.
Mulching the site is carried out before planting strawberries as follows:
- fertilize the earth;
- dig well;
- level and water;
- the surface is covered with a film, the ends are fixed at the edges;
- then make cruciform cuts in it - at a distance of 30 cm in a row, between rows 40-50 cm;
- plant strawberries in the holes.
For the film to last longer, its thickness must be at least 30 microns. Her color is also a very important characteristic:
- The black film performs two functions at once - it warms up the soil and prevents weeds from germinating. It is suitable for temperate regions where short changeable summers.
- For the southern regions, brown, gray or two-color film is used - it is black on top and white on the bottom. These colors save the soil from overheating.
- A white film or transparent for mulching is not suitable, since it does not interfere with the growth of weeds.
However, agrofibre also has disadvantages:
- watering is carried out only through holes;
- with excessive watering, condensate accumulates under the film, which provokes root rot or the appearance of slugs;
- during freezing in spring, condensate can lead to freezing or death of plants;
- there is a rapid depletion of the soil, there is a lack of oxygen, so the film does not pass not only water but also air;
- in the heat it gets very hot, the root system overheats;
- the shelf life of the material decreases with sharp fluctuations in temperature and under the influence of direct sunlight.
Non woven materials
Experienced gardeners are increasingly using non-woven materials for mulching. They are more durable in comparison with the film, but they also cost an order of magnitude more, pass air and moisture, watering can be carried out over the entire surface, and not just into the hole.
The following materials are presented on the market:
- Russian production - agrotex and spanbond;
- Ukrainian - agrin;
- German - lutrasil;
- French - Agril;
- Polish - Plant Protex.
Despite the apparent diversity, they differ from each other only by interlacing and processing polypropylene yarns, and the functions have the same ones.
The material consists of two layers - the first passes moisture well, the second - holds it. In the dry period - this is a big plus. However, during rainy summers, overmoistening of the soil occurs. For mulching, it is enough to take a non-woven fiber with a density of 60 g / sq. m. The algorithm for using fiber is the same as when applying the film.
Cardboard
Compared to other inorganic methods, this is the most economical and environmental method. Over the entire area of the site, sheets of cardboard are overlapped (15-20 cm on each side) and a fertile layer of earth 10 cm thick is poured on top of it. All is left for a week, and begin to plant berry seedlings.
To do this, using a scoop or knife, make holes in the cardboard with a layer of mulch - holes, where the root system of the plant is placed. Sprinkle it with fertile soil, compact and well watered. Watering is done right in the hole, trying not to get on the cardboard, so that it does not get wet quickly and lasts as long as possible. Cardboard usually overheats after a season, so the procedure is repeated next year.
Mulching is a fairly simple procedure that any beginner gardener can handle. Compliance with agricultural technology, properly selected mulch and the thickness of its layer brings only benefits for strawberries, and increases its yield.