North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Bruce Hansen" <brucehansen@ACD.NET>]

I have had too many trees girdled by voles to use a hay mulch. In my view,
plastic is much better. You do not have to remove it in the spring since
black is good for solar heat to the soil. This will also help in reducing a
late spring frost.

Ya

B

-----Original Message-----
From: nafex-admin@lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:nafex-admin@lists.ibiblio.org]On Behalf Of Thomas Olenio
Sent: Friday, August 09, 2002 9:25 PM
To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] orchard ground-cover options



Joe and Ellen Hecksel wrote:

<snip> Another strategy would be to have a vegetation free zone 4' around
the tree's trunk.  That
requires a herbicide mix like Round-up and Simazine or a black plastic
mulch.  Not an option if
you are of the organic school.

Hi,

Just out of curiosity...

Has anyone tried using the large round bales of hay/straw for a mulch mat?

You would just need to unwind it, cut off 4' lengths, put a slit into it,
and slide it around the
tree.

In the fall the mat could be removed.

It would definately prove to be a good mulch, and could be moved back into
place in the spring.

I know they are using them in a similar manner for mats for cows in dairy
barns, so they do stand
up.

Later,
Tom

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