In article ,
ask@itshall said...
:
:"Jeßus" wrote in message
...
: In article , gardenlen0
: @bigpond.com said...
: :
: retty hard to determine how far mulch will go as it comes packed
: :tight to loose there is no real standard, and bales can be larger or
: :smaller again no standard.
: :
: :the way i mulch i try to keep it all around 8"s thick and that
: :determines how far a bale goes. buiscuits can vary in thickness also
: :curently bales of sugar cane mulch gibing 4" to 5" that can't be
: :seperated thinner.
:
: Thank for the advice Len.
:
: As you say, too many variables involved to say with any degree of
: certainty. I'll just get as big a load as I can.
:
: One way or the other it'll be quickly used up, I planted somewhere
: between 200-300 trees last year, and most of those will need some re-
: mulching before too long. Then there's the impending (new) polytunnel,
: which I hope will be ready to go by mid-autumn. Also the shade house
: veggie garden and the 'open' veggie gardens. And the fruit trees... and
: on it goes...
:
:A lady I know wrote a rather good book on kitchen gardening and she says to
:never use straw straight from the bale but to age the bales first by letting
:them sit on the earth and turning them occasionally for a couple of months
:till they lose that straw colour. I have been doing this now for a couple
f years and I think she's right. I now think that fresh straw isn't as
:good to use for mulch as aged straw. Plants seem to prefer aged straw.

Based on past experiences, I tend to agree with the lady author you
know.

Hard to put into words why - perhaps it just 'beds down' better compared
to the stiffer, fresher/bulkier material and so forms a more effective
covering, whilst at the same time providing some organic material,
bacteria etc. to the soil more quickly?