Mulching your garden
Mulching helps to cover the soil around the vegetables.
What you need to know:
- With paper or plastic sheeting the material is rolled out on the prepared seedbed and anchored on the edges with soil.
- Seeds and transplants are planted through holes at the desired spacing.
- Water can be applied from the side through furrow irrigation or by a trickle or drip tube or soaker hose under the mulch.
When should I mulch my garden?
Cyrus Mubangizi
Dear Cyrus
Mulching is crucial in farming because it among other things keep away the deadly weeds in and around your garden.
We must know that weeds compete with vegetables for water, nutrients and light. They also often harbour insects and diseases. Small weeds are easier to control than large ones.
As a farmer, no matter the scale, you should know that mulching helps to cover the soil around the vegetables. Besides controlling weeds, the mulch will conserve moisture, regulate the soil temperature and keep the vegetables cleaner.
With mulching, little cultivation is needed. You can use materials such as leaves, sawdust, wood chips, cardboard, newspaper, shredded paper, old carpet, and paper and plastic sheeting.
On established plantings, materials are spread around the plants. With paper or plastic sheeting the material is rolled out on the prepared seedbed and anchored on the edges with soil. Seeds and transplants are planted through holes at the desired spacing. Water can be applied from the side through furrow irrigation or by a trickle or drip tube or soaker hose under the mulch.
Answered by Joseph Male an agronomist working with Holland Genentech Uganda, Muyenga.
