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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] biodegradable mulch

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  • From: Wendy & Randy Gray <hoemangray AT earthlink.net>
  • To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>, Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] biodegradable mulch
  • Date: Tue, 6 Mar 2007 16:53:15 -0800 (GMT-08:00)

If this is the same product I used a few years ago (may not be), we had a lot
of difficulty with it tearing. We manually put it out and didn't have the
smoothest beds, so it wasn't tight, our mistake there...so it caused more
work. I tried it again a year later around peonies and it didn't last the
summer without lots of "things" holding it down (rocks, dirt, mulch) which
basically sped up the composition process I think.

I found the very lightweight, woven (with a felt-like backing) porous
weedcloth that you can find in home garden centers to work very well as
"in-bed" weedcloth and it doesn't rip as easily. I contacted the manufacturer
(Dalen) directly and purchased a couple of cases. I use this on all my
annual beds of flower plugs - except those that don't like the heat! It has
definitely helped in our labor for weeding, even though it takes time to put
it out.

Wendy in OR

-----Original Message-----
>From: Bill Shoemaker <wshoemak AT inil.com>
>Sent: Mar 6, 2007 6:17 AM
>To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
>Subject: Re: [Market-farming] biodegradable mulch
>
>We used some last Summer. We applied it about July 10 and planted fall crops
>of several vegetables. I thought it handled well in the plastic layer and
>stood up well during planting. But it did seem to develop small holes in it
>throughout the season. By the end of the season it was pretty tattered.
>Still, it seemed to do the job pretty well. I was going to take some of it
>out and leave a little to evaluate breakdown into the following season. Then
>we got wet and cold and the material was frozen into the ground. We'll see
>how it looks in a few weeks. It's actually been under water the last 5 days.
>
>Bill Shoemaker, Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops
>University of Illinois - St Charles Horticulture Research Center
>www.nres.uiuc.edu/faculty/directory/shoemaker_wh.html
>
>
>
>> Using it this season. We'll know more about laying it - hopefully - by
>> the weekend and will be able to report on the rest at the end of the
>> season. Pricey stuff!! But, the labor saved from lifting mulch will
>> make up for it - in our operation - if it works otherwise.
>>
>> Alison Wiediger, Au Naturel Farm
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org
>> [mailto:market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of
>> Ploughshare
>> Sent: Tuesday, March 06, 2007 7:53 AM
>> To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
>> Subject: [Market-farming] biodegradable mulch
>>
>> Has anyone used the starch based biodegradable black mulch? Did it go
>> down
>> without tearing? Did it hold up in the weather? What's the verdict over
>>
>> all?
>> --Gary
>>
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>>
>
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