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Posted on 8:59 PM by Wanto and filed under
By Rick Nelson
It is also an advantage to apply a deep mulch to the ground, if the material is available. A great many growers do not incorporate any manure in the ground at digging, preferring to reserve all.
a mulch is a surface layer of 1 dead vegetable matter, manure, etc., to keep the ground and the roots of plants moist. A somewhat cold description of a practice which many growers consider to be the most important single factor in growing really good dahlias on any soil.
Chicken and rabbit manure, although rather dangerous stuff to use because of its comparatively high ammonia content, if well mixed with straw and composted down for a time makes an excellent mulch, but in this case it is probably best to apply an additional layer of straw on top of the manure as it is seldom possible to obtain sufficient to make a really deep mulch.
Dusting is fairly economical in cost, provided a good powder blower is bought which will give an exceedingly fine cloud of insecticide, and provided the operation is carried out at a time when there is little wind. Alternatively an old woollen sock will make a very good substitute, half filled with the powdered insecticide. Gently shake the sock whilst walking slowly along the rows so that a fine cloud of insecticide drifts through the plants, effectively covering both sides of the foliage.
The texture of the soil is improved under the mulch, so that the ground absorbs water much more readily, and is less likely to be compacted at surface level by heavy rain or artificial watering.
The time of application will vary with both the season and the type of soil. The first noticeable effect of mulching is a considerable drop in the surface temperature of the soil, so that it is obviously not a good plan to mulch too early on heavy soils which are slow in warming up, or in a cold damp season.
a mulch is a surface layer of 1 dead vegetable matter, manure, etc., to keep the ground and the roots of plants moist. A somewhat cold description of a practice which many growers consider to be the most important single factor in growing really good dahlias on any soil.
Chicken and rabbit manure, although rather dangerous stuff to use because of its comparatively high ammonia content, if well mixed with straw and composted down for a time makes an excellent mulch, but in this case it is probably best to apply an additional layer of straw on top of the manure as it is seldom possible to obtain sufficient to make a really deep mulch.
Dusting is fairly economical in cost, provided a good powder blower is bought which will give an exceedingly fine cloud of insecticide, and provided the operation is carried out at a time when there is little wind. Alternatively an old woollen sock will make a very good substitute, half filled with the powdered insecticide. Gently shake the sock whilst walking slowly along the rows so that a fine cloud of insecticide drifts through the plants, effectively covering both sides of the foliage.
The texture of the soil is improved under the mulch, so that the ground absorbs water much more readily, and is less likely to be compacted at surface level by heavy rain or artificial watering.
The time of application will vary with both the season and the type of soil. The first noticeable effect of mulching is a considerable drop in the surface temperature of the soil, so that it is obviously not a good plan to mulch too early on heavy soils which are slow in warming up, or in a cold damp season.
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