Mulch saves moisture. During hot summer months, it can make the difference between a thriving garden and a desertlike weed patch.
Besides conserving water, mulch saves on work by keeping weeds down around plants. Tomatoes, peppers and eggplants are happier because mulch eliminates competition for vital moisture and nutrients in the soil. Fewer weeds always make gardeners happier, too.
Sidney and Arlene Inglis of Orangevale have an extensive vegetable garden on their 2-acre lot. Part of our inaugural Bee Garden network, the Inglises use a variety of mulches and techniques to keep their plants healthy and producing.
For their pepper plants, they used strips of black plastic mulch over compost with a drip watering system tucked under the sheets. That delivers the water to plant roots with no chance of evaporation.
For tomatoes, the Inglises tried clean straw hay to create a 4-inch-deep blanket of mulch. The hay will eventually break down and add more nitrogen and fiber to the soil.
Coincidentally, the word "mulch" comes from the Middle English term for "rotten hay."
On this same subject, "Bobbye of Sacramento," who did not include her last name on her e-mail, asked about using newspaper as mulch. "Do I then place bark or soil on top of the newspaper?" she asked.
Newsprint (such as the paper used in The Bee) makes effective, low-cost mulch. Use several pages (at least six) to get enough thickness to block out weeds while retaining moisture.
You can top the newsprint with bark to make it more attractive. Eventually, the newsprint will break down, adding fiber and a little nitrogen to the soil. Topping with soil will just give the weeds a place to grow. But putting compost underneath the newsprint will benefit the plants.
Some color inks contain metals that may harm foliage, so choose the black and white sections over the colorful inserts. The Bee's primary inks are biodegradable and safe for plants.
Share your own updates via our virtual Bee Garden at www.sacbee.com/ forums. (Scroll down to Lifestyle and look for Home & Garden.) You can also find advice on wise watering, pest control and more.
You can share your photos, too, through our garden gallery at www.sacbee.com/ pluck_photo_galleries/. (The link is at the bottom of the sacbee.com home page; look for "Share Your Pictures.") Or you can send your best garden photos to h&g@sacbee.com or to Garden Photos, Home & Garden, Sacramento Bee, P.O. Box 15779, Sacramento, CA 95852.
Call The Bee's Debbie Arrington, (916) 321-1075.
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