On May 15, 6:19 am, "FarmI" ask@itshall be given wrote:
wrote in message
On May 14, 1:42 pm, wrote:
I am living in eastern Ontario area. Is red cedar mulching good for
this area? For backyard mulching, what may be the best, to prevent
pest and other drawbacks?

I mean I wish I could do the following in an area 10x8 feet:

Weed control , then Moisture retention, then Soil improvement, then
Beautification of the yeard ...

All mulches will suppress weeds if they are thick enough and (in the case of
perennial weeds) if they are lifted and let drop back to the ground as the
weeds show through (and this is repeated often enough to starve the weeds of
light - it may take some time though). All mulches will also help in
moisture retention if they are thick enough and there is moisture there to
begin with. Some mulches can actually be water repellant to a degree so
they must also allow good passage of moisture through them. Alfalfa based
mulches are very good for improving the soil over time and especially if
used with animal manures used under the mulch to encourage earthworms and
soil biota.

HTH.


Thanks.

I did not know Alfalfa based mulches. But I guess I could try it soon.
How much (I mean in boxes , or how many seeds) do I need for an area
of 8x10 in square feet? Do I also need to manure them? how often and
how much to watering? Another question is that Alfafa is not
perennial, I guess I have to plant each spring?

Now I have applied some red cedar mulches, about 2". I guess that
might not be enough. Also someone told me that red cedar could lead to
pests, ants, etc. how should I deal with the applied red cedar? ro
remove them?