Is it possible to mulch cabbage with cut grass

Unprotected soil in the summer heat warms up to 55-75 degrees. Overheating of the soil is especially dangerous for cabbage, because its large sheets emit a lot of moisture at the same time, which negatively affects the yield. You can save the soil from overheating by mulching.

Why use mulching between rows of cabbage

Mulching the soil, next to the planted cabbage, largely determines the result of the yield, as well as the damage to it by pests and the overgrowth of beds with weeds. It also helps keep the soil loose.

Mulch enriches the soil with nutrients, which favorably affects the nutrition of soil microorganisms and earthworms.These organisms improve the structure of the soil in the course of their life activity, processing the mulch and spreading it both along the surface and in depth.

Remember! Speci alty stores sell vermicompost (substances processed by earthworms) for use in growing plants.

Reduce the number of waterings

Locations on the slopes, with vegetable crops planted on them, during the melting of snow or heavy summer rains, the topsoil is washed out. To reduce the negative consequences of such exposure to precipitation, soil mulching is carried out.

Weeds are first removed from the site, then the soil is thoroughly watered and loosened. After the top layer dries slightly, the mulch is laid.

Pay attention! Mulch is contraindicated to lay on cold ground. This causes fungal infection and rot.

For free access of air to the plant, there should be space between it and the stacked mulch. The layer of mulch to be laid should be approximately 2-8 cm, depending on the properties of the material used.

Used materials for mulching

Mulching cabbage beds and other vegetable plants is carried out using two types of materials: inorganic and organic material. Each of them can be noted both pluses and negative characteristics.

Organic mulch stays in the garden for the winter. By spring, the microflora in the soil processes it into humus. Mulch from inorganic materials is removed in autumn.

Plant remains

The cheapest and easiest mulching is to use plant remains as mulch. This not only saves money, but also an excellent protection for the soil. As a result of this procedure, one can expect an increased yield, as well as a decrease in the number of possible diseases.

Mowed grass or green manure is used to protect cabbages in the open field in the spring, after the soil has thawed. The soil is sown with rye, and after heating to the required temperature, cabbage seeds are sown. Rye laid on top of the beds will protect young plants from the cold, and can also provide shade.

Is it possible to mulch cabbage with cut grass

After the cabbage grows, the rye must be mowed with a chopper and left to dry in the beds. As the rye straw decomposes, the soil will be saturated with nitrogen compounds and serve as protection.If it is not possible to use green manure, then nettles are mowed in abandoned areas, or grass is collected after mowing lawns or collected after weeding the garden. As one of the options, straw or hay left over from last year is suitable.

Sawdust

It is quite comfortable for plants if the soil is mulched with sawdust. This is a natural product. It negatively affects the pathogenic flora - snails, some types of insects, slugs. They especially dislike sawdust from trees covered with needles. Also, sawdust absorbs a large amount of moisture, preventing it from evaporating, but at the same time, the water inside contributes to their rapid decomposition.

If you buy waste from the woodworking industry, then this mulch will be inexpensive. You can also stock up on it if there are forest areas with numerous dead wood nearby.

Instead of sawdust, you can mulch with cones, needles, wood chips or leaves from the nearest forest. Planted cabbage can also be protected with tree bark. The beds mulched with bark have an interesting decorative look. But its most important advantage is that it does not deteriorate for a long time from weather conditions, and protects the soil from unfriendly microflora.

Peat and compost

Peat mulch and compost are considered reliable soil protection. The positive point is that if we mulch the soil with these products, they can be left on the beds after harvesting. It is also an inexpensive type of processing and is suitable for any vegetable gardens or orchards.

Feature of inorganic mulch

Plastic film is used to protect the soil. You can cover the primer with either a transparent or black film.A dark film is laid on the beds before planting cabbage in the spring. She covers the ground for 2-4 weeks. In addition to warming the soil, the film does not allow weeds to grow. Before planting cabbage seedlings, the film is removed.

The transparent version of the film is used in the summer. The beds are carefully watered beforehand, and then it is laid out in row-spacing and fixed. While the film is on the beds, weeds will not appear. The disadvantage is its fragility. After a few weeks it starts to deteriorate.

When using inorganic covering materials, plastic bottles are used to ensure irrigation. To this end, the bottle is stuck with the cork down next to the plant, and liquid is poured into the cut bottom.

Soil covering nonwovens

In addition to film coating materials, other types are also used:

More durable than ordinary polyethylene - lutrasil.
Materials made from propylene threads by gluing with heat treatment (agrospan, spunbel, spunbond). The service life of such materials can last about 2-4 years.
In some cases, expanded clay, stone or crushed stone is used. Their disadvantage is that they interfere with the cultivation of soil near plants.
Ordinary cardboard helps well in protecting the soil. It is easy to lay it, but if it is a rainy summer, then it quickly becomes sour. You can cover the entire bed with them, and then make holes in it for planting cabbage.
Reliably protects the soil ordinary burlap. It does not allow the soil to be washed out during irrigation, and also protects it from compaction. The disadvantage is that it dries quickly and requires additional irrigation.

Mulching the soil with film materials requires the organization of irrigation. To do this, perforated pipes with holes made in them are dug into the soil in the beds.

Pest and weed control

Some types of weeds can grow through film covers, such as horsetail. Therefore, the soil in the beds is treated with herbicides, or the plants are pulled out by hand.

Depending on the type of mulch chosen, pests may also appear on the beds. This especially happens when sheltering cabbage beds with sawdust, straw, hay or freshly cut grass. Suitable chemicals are applied depending on the type of pest.