GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post - using asphalt roofing shingles as plant and tree mulch to combat drought

13-07-2005, 12:26 AM

wrote:
In past years I have tackled dry spells with just pure watering. But
this year I am changing tactic to that of thinking that a good mulch is
even better than watering. I say this because the ground has alot of
moisture and what removes it is evaporation. It evaporates faster than
spot-watering over long stretches of time. What I want to prevent is
the plant from leaf curl and shrivel and the plant turn off metabolism
due to drought conditions. So if I see the plant putting on more new
leaves in drought conditions I know my mulching has been very
effective.

What I use is roofing tar shingles, those asphalt shingles. It
suppresses the weeds around the base of the plant but most importantly
moisture that comes to the surface remains there and not evaporate away
as fast. In past years I have given those plants two 5 gallons of water
every third day. Now I give them just one 5 gallons of water.

[snip]

Wow. Fantastically bad idea.

1. All that absorbed heat will affect plant tissue near shingles.
2. Heavy metals in manufacture.
3. Gas exchange modification.
4. Other mulches return nutrients to the soil (try, say, 8 in, of
straw, or cardboard and grass clippings).
5. You'll look like a kook.

Really. Natural mulches, please.

D