North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Moyer, Richard" <ramoyer@king.edu>]

Re: Orchard Hay Compost, Water retention
We cut our field 2-3x per year.  Fescue, vetch and clover.  Dry it then put
in rows 3-4 feet high and as wide.  After 1-2 years, breaks down very well.
I use this to kill vegetation in preparation for new beds, and to place
around fruit trees and berry vines for weed suppression. Try not to let this
touch the trunks, regarding borers.

Makes great habitat for voles and other critters, including snakes that eat
them.  We have a 5 ft black racer frequenting our most recent pile.

With constant mulch and more organic matter in the soil, the lower the
evaporation rate and higher the water retention in the soil.  We loath
paying sewer rates on our agricultural water.