Mulching of ornamental plants and mowing turf grass are two essential cultural practices that are commonly done in the landscape.
In this article we will discuss about Mulching and it’s benefits and some best management practices for Mulching and Mowing on landscape especially for Ornamental plants.
Mulch is any material applied to the soil surface to protect or improve the area covered. Mulches are frequently applied to improve soil environment and to enhance the plant growth inside the soil as well as shoot region. It is applied around the plants base.
• Bark
• Wood chips
• Leaves
• Pine needles
• Grass clippings
or they can be inorganic material such as :-
• Gravel
• Pebble
• Polyethylene film or
• Woven ground cloth.
Mulch can be applied to the soil surface, but should not rest against the stems of landscape plants.
Mulching has the following beneficial effects on the soil and plants:-
• Mulches can prevent the loss of water from the soil by evaporation. Moisture moves by capillary action to the surface and evaporates if the soil is not covered by a mulch.
• Mulches suppress weeds.
• When the mulch material itself is weed-free and applied deeply enough (2 to 3 inches after settling) to prevent weed germination or to smother existing small weeds.
• Constant soil temperature can be maintained by mulching.
• Under intense sunlight mulch works as insulting layer which keeps the soil temperature lesses then usual and also keeps warm during cold weather.
• Most mulches prevent crusting of the soil surface thus improving absorption and percolation of water into the soil and at the same time reducing erosion also.
• Organic materials used as a mulch can improve soil structure and tilts.
• As mulch decays, the material becomes topsoil.
• Decaying mulch may also add nutrients to the soil.
• Mulches add to the beauty of the landscape by providing a cover of uniform color and an interesting surface texture.
• Mulched plants produce roots in directly under the mulch layer that surrounds them. The plants produce these roots in addition to the roots in the soil.
• As a result, the mulched plants have more developed roots system as compare to plants that are not mulched.
When possible, use mulches made from environmentally friendly sources or recycled materials. Do not pile mulch against a tree or around the bases of shrubs. Burying the crowns can lead to crown and root rot like disease.
We should leave some clear space for air to pass inside the soil and then to the trunk. Maintain a 2”- 3” incs depth of mulch after settling.
Mowing is an important maintenance operation which includes cutting of grass via machine. Mowing at the correct height increases turf density and root health and suppresses weeds. A healthy root system ensures that water and nutrients are absorbed and not wasted. Fewer weeds means less need of herbicides in that area.
Clippings contains nutrients and should be recycled on the lawn. The nutrients in clippings are pollutants when they are mixed in storm water systems and waterbodies rather then landscape.
Growth rates and mowing height have the most influence on frequency of mowing.
As a rule of thumb, mowing should be done often enough so that no more than 1/3th of the leaf blade is removed at any one mowing.
Clippings have significant nutrient value and also decompose rapidly thus, returning some fertilizer and organic matter to the soil.
Mowing equipment and string trimmers can damage trees. Tree trunks that are bumped by mowers , are injured via contact can cause a great loss in there health.
Mechanical damage to trees can cause progressively bigger wounds, since the trees are hit in the same general area repeatedly over time.
The damage eventually progresses through :-
• Phloem
• Cambium
• Xylem of the tree.
In a worst-case scenario, the tree is girdled and dies. Those trees are not killed but are stressed and the wounds acts as an entry point for disease and insect infestation. The whipping action of the nylon string on a trimmer can debark a young tree quickly, causing its death. The careful use of string trimmers and mower is very necessary in the landscape because there is no reason to use them around trees.
Replacing the grass around the base of trees with mulch provides a buffer zone. This is best combination to reduce erosion, water loss and nutrients in soil.
• reduced competition from weeds and water conservation.
The growth habit and leaf width of a turf grass species determines the optimum cutting height, frequency, and preferred mower types. A grass that spreads horizontally can usually be mowed shorter than an upright-growing, bunching grass.
• Mow only when the turf is dry.
• Sharp the mower blade frequently just to prevent a ragged appearance to the turf.
• Avoid mechanical damage to trees and shrubs from string trimmers, mowers, and other equipment.
• Adjust the cutting height by setting the mower on a driveway or sidewalk and using a ruler to measure the distance between the ground and the blade.
• Mow in a all directions every time when ever the lawn is cut. This prevents wear patterns, reduces the grain(grass laying over in the same direction), and reduces the possibility of scalping.
• Highly acceptable mowing height should be considered for the grasses being grown.
• Do not remove more than 1/3rd of the foliage at one time.
• Do not direct clippings into bodies of water or on to impervious surfaces.
• Remove any clippings that are blown onto sidewalks, driveways, and other impervious areas.
• Do not remove clippings. If clumping occurs, distribute the clippings by re-mowing or by lightly raking.
• You can also use a leaf blower to distribute clippings.
• Clean the mower after use to reduce rusting and weed seed movement.
• Recycling of grass should be practiced because it returns nutrients to the soil. Compost can be used as a soil modifier or mulch.
• Careless disposal may spread invasive non-native plants to areas where they don’t belong.
Lawn and landscape maintenance involves the removal of leaves, clippings, and sometimes a whole landscape plants, and even unwanted houseplants.
In conclusion, Mulching and mowing are important practice in the landscape farming and should be done with proper knowledge and configuration.
- TAPSENDRA PATEL
In this article we will discuss about Mulching and it’s benefits and some best management practices for Mulching and Mowing on landscape especially for Ornamental plants.
Mulch is any material applied to the soil surface to protect or improve the area covered. Mulches are frequently applied to improve soil environment and to enhance the plant growth inside the soil as well as shoot region. It is applied around the plants base.
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They may consist of organic material such as :-• Bark
• Wood chips
• Leaves
• Pine needles
• Grass clippings
or they can be inorganic material such as :-
• Gravel
• Pebble
• Polyethylene film or
• Woven ground cloth.
Mulch can be applied to the soil surface, but should not rest against the stems of landscape plants.
Mulching has the following beneficial effects on the soil and plants:-
• Mulches can prevent the loss of water from the soil by evaporation. Moisture moves by capillary action to the surface and evaporates if the soil is not covered by a mulch.
• Mulches suppress weeds.
• When the mulch material itself is weed-free and applied deeply enough (2 to 3 inches after settling) to prevent weed germination or to smother existing small weeds.
• Constant soil temperature can be maintained by mulching.
• Under intense sunlight mulch works as insulting layer which keeps the soil temperature lesses then usual and also keeps warm during cold weather.
• Most mulches prevent crusting of the soil surface thus improving absorption and percolation of water into the soil and at the same time reducing erosion also.
• Organic materials used as a mulch can improve soil structure and tilts.
• As mulch decays, the material becomes topsoil.
• Decaying mulch may also add nutrients to the soil.
• Mulches add to the beauty of the landscape by providing a cover of uniform color and an interesting surface texture.
• Mulched plants produce roots in directly under the mulch layer that surrounds them. The plants produce these roots in addition to the roots in the soil.
• As a result, the mulched plants have more developed roots system as compare to plants that are not mulched.
When possible, use mulches made from environmentally friendly sources or recycled materials. Do not pile mulch against a tree or around the bases of shrubs. Burying the crowns can lead to crown and root rot like disease.
We should leave some clear space for air to pass inside the soil and then to the trunk. Maintain a 2”- 3” incs depth of mulch after settling.
Mowing is an important maintenance operation which includes cutting of grass via machine. Mowing at the correct height increases turf density and root health and suppresses weeds. A healthy root system ensures that water and nutrients are absorbed and not wasted. Fewer weeds means less need of herbicides in that area.
Clippings contains nutrients and should be recycled on the lawn. The nutrients in clippings are pollutants when they are mixed in storm water systems and waterbodies rather then landscape.
Growth rates and mowing height have the most influence on frequency of mowing.
As a rule of thumb, mowing should be done often enough so that no more than 1/3th of the leaf blade is removed at any one mowing.
Clippings have significant nutrient value and also decompose rapidly thus, returning some fertilizer and organic matter to the soil.
Mowing equipment and string trimmers can damage trees. Tree trunks that are bumped by mowers , are injured via contact can cause a great loss in there health.
Mechanical damage to trees can cause progressively bigger wounds, since the trees are hit in the same general area repeatedly over time.
The damage eventually progresses through :-
• Phloem
• Cambium
• Xylem of the tree.
In a worst-case scenario, the tree is girdled and dies. Those trees are not killed but are stressed and the wounds acts as an entry point for disease and insect infestation. The whipping action of the nylon string on a trimmer can debark a young tree quickly, causing its death. The careful use of string trimmers and mower is very necessary in the landscape because there is no reason to use them around trees.
Replacing the grass around the base of trees with mulch provides a buffer zone. This is best combination to reduce erosion, water loss and nutrients in soil.
The larger the mulched area -> the less the turf near the tree is stressed by shade -> the more room the lawn mower has to maneuver with ease -> the less the string trimmer needs to be used
Mulch also confers other benefits such as :-• reduced competition from weeds and water conservation.
The growth habit and leaf width of a turf grass species determines the optimum cutting height, frequency, and preferred mower types. A grass that spreads horizontally can usually be mowed shorter than an upright-growing, bunching grass.
Mowing do and don’t with precautions:-
• Do not mow wet turf because it can promote disease and fungus, and clippings can clog the machine.• Mow only when the turf is dry.
• Sharp the mower blade frequently just to prevent a ragged appearance to the turf.
• Avoid mechanical damage to trees and shrubs from string trimmers, mowers, and other equipment.
• Adjust the cutting height by setting the mower on a driveway or sidewalk and using a ruler to measure the distance between the ground and the blade.
• Mow in a all directions every time when ever the lawn is cut. This prevents wear patterns, reduces the grain(grass laying over in the same direction), and reduces the possibility of scalping.
• Highly acceptable mowing height should be considered for the grasses being grown.
• Do not remove more than 1/3rd of the foliage at one time.
• Do not direct clippings into bodies of water or on to impervious surfaces.
• Remove any clippings that are blown onto sidewalks, driveways, and other impervious areas.
• Do not remove clippings. If clumping occurs, distribute the clippings by re-mowing or by lightly raking.
• You can also use a leaf blower to distribute clippings.
• Clean the mower after use to reduce rusting and weed seed movement.
• Recycling of grass should be practiced because it returns nutrients to the soil. Compost can be used as a soil modifier or mulch.
• Careless disposal may spread invasive non-native plants to areas where they don’t belong.
Lawn and landscape maintenance involves the removal of leaves, clippings, and sometimes a whole landscape plants, and even unwanted houseplants.
In conclusion, Mulching and mowing are important practice in the landscape farming and should be done with proper knowledge and configuration.
- TAPSENDRA PATEL
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