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Notes From the Garden
Notes from the GardenTime Mulches On
By Madeleine Wilde
Jan 27, 1999 -- At loose ends now that the seed orders are filled and tired of poring over the catalogues? Yes, the hands just itch to get working again, yet all the advice says we must not touch the soggy soil. I have found that the soggy soil is actually just great for planting these days, IF it has been covered by a good layer of mulch.I pull back the mulch and gently slip the young plants in and softly push the soil back around the roots and then cover the area again with mulch. The next deluge of rain settles the plant into its new home. I did replant a big rhododendron the other day but the soil under the pine tree was loose and sandy under the mulch, so there was not the problem of compacting soggy soil. Of course I had to turn off all the open spigots, get the water turned back on and retrieve the hose from the garage and then do all those chores in reverse, but it was such great fun to be out "doing" in the garden again.
The mulch I use is created from the chippings of my favorite arborist. More and more arborists are finding that their clients want to use these chippings also, so it is getting harder to get frequent loads delivered. Some people have complained that the mulch is uneven in character, but I find that I just pick out the big chunks and put them in my yard waste. After awhile the rain also reveals some chunky and shiny pieces, but I just remove them while I am checking for weeds or picking up the detritus created from the last big wind storm.
The difference in soil quality is so striking after you start a program of "wood-chip mulching." While it is true that nitrogen gets depleted from the soil in the process of decomposing this wood-chip material, it is so easy to replenish the soil with nitrogen. It is not easy, however, to add to the soil all the beneficial bacteria that gets created by having a blanket of mulch. The important thing to remember about this type of mulch is that it shouldn't be dug into the soil, but rather laid on top. Think of it as giving your planting beds a luxurious cashmere blanket which protects the soil and the roots from the pounding raindrops and the harshness of freezing and thawing.
A few years ago I cleared a grossly overgrown area where the soil had been badly damaged over the years from the neighbor's use of weed killers. The soil had a quality to it that reminded me of my great-aunt's face powder. It was in such poor shape that water just bounced off the surface. I am sure you have encountered areas like this, either under old hedges or areas that have been sucked dry by aggressive tree roots. I planted out the area and then applied a 6 to 8 inch layer of wood chips. I set the sprinklers on the area for about 2 hours the first day and then another 3 hours the next day, with the hope that the gentle seeping through of the water would help to get the soil wet again. It did and six months later I was digging in the area, moving some plants around, and I kept running into big fat worms! I've been mulching with wood chips ever since and in all parts of my garden except for the vegetable beds where I mulch with aged manure.
Even with its growing popularity, arborists still have a tough time getting rid of their material so they will be delighted to arrange delivery times with you. Also think about your neighbors and share the riches if they are interested. Don't wait much longer for soon the light will be back from the southern hemisphere and every gardener will be out there discovering their garden again and the competition for good material will get even heavier.
A fresh pile of wood chip material has a great woodsy smell and then in just a few days the interior of the pile has a startling warmth to it from the decomposition process. Wearing a mask when you are working with the pile helps to alleviate any lung irritation that may occur due to the fine particulate matter that is present from the chipping process or bacteria that is present due to the decomposing organic matter. Because the material is uneven in texture, it remains open rather than matting. This openness allows the rain to move through very thick layers of this material so I have never had a problem with any rotting on plants that may have their necks buried. With the new warmth in the spring I do pull off some of the material in areas where I have mulched thicker than 2 to 3 inches. I use this material to cover the soil in my pots so that when watering them the "mud" doesn't splash onto the leaves of the new small plants or leave unsightly rings on the pot interiors.
Yes, you are right with your perception that this gardener gets a great big gleam in her eye when another load arrives! I was out working a new pile the other afternoon and finally the automatic lights kept coming on every time I went to the pile to get another bucket load. I had to laugh out loud and thought to myself that the neighbors will be convinced now that I am truly certifiable. However, the bare winter beds look so lush with their new wood chip cashmere blankets, and while spreading the material I had the pleasure of seeing the first tiny brave shoots of my spring bulbs.
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