- Mulch mowing - how does it work?
- What speaks for mulching?
- What problems can arise from mulching?
- When and on which meadows should mulching be done?
- tips and tricks
Both hobby gardeners and experts have been debating the pros and cons of mulching for years. With regard to meadows, it can be stated that mulch mowing does not make sense for every meadow - but should definitely be carried out, depending on the type of meadow and the condition of the soil and vegetation as well as the intensity of use.
Mulch mowing - how does it work?
In a nutshell: when mulching, the mowing material is not removed, but left on the meadow. There it should rot and return the nutrients it needs to the soil. However, mulching cannot be done in the course of conventional mowing, for example with a scythe or a bar mower. The clippings have to be chopped as finely as possible so that they rot faster and can be picked up by the ground. For this reason, a special device, the mulcher, should be used for mulching.
What speaks for mulching?
Mulching offers two major advantages: On the one hand, you don't have to worry about where you put the clippings. You also return nutrients to the soil as the material decomposes, creating a natural cycle. Mulched meadows require significantly less fertilization.
What problems can arise from mulching?
However, the method also has a number of serious disadvantages. There is a risk that the mulch will not rot quickly enough and will cover the living plants like a thick layer. These in turn no longer receive enough light and air, they suffocate. Instead, mice and snails in particular thrive under the thick layer of mulch, causing considerable damage in the meadow. The animals are comfortably warm under the mulch (€239.00) and safely hidden from natural enemies, can spend the winter and reproduce diligently.
When and on which meadows should mulching be done?
In view of these advantages and disadvantages, it is important to weigh up any mulching carefully. This measure is particularly useful for intensively used meadows (e.g. horse meadows) and poor meadows with soil that is too acidic. If moss, sorrel, meadow sorrel, weevil or speedwell are thriving in your meadow, you should definitely take countermeasures - these plants are a sure indicator of soil that is too acidic. In this case, you should definitely lime and mulch the meadow.
tips and tricks
If mulch does not decompose quickly enough, the cause can also be a lack of soil organisms as a result of overly intensive cultivation. In such a case, the soil balance must first be improved by applying the appropriate organisms (ask your specialist dealer).
IJA