Last year was insane

It was so hot and dry and no rain for weeks and weeks

I think i spent an average of $40 a month just on the vegetable garden and
shrubs.

I was thinking of using Hay or Straw I am not sure what I can get

I need something that will reduce water evaporation and not cause growth of
mold.

I really need some hints this year
last year i resorted to letting everything but the zucinni and the tomatoes
die because it was costing too much and taking too much time to water often
2 times a day for 30 minutes or more just for the garden.

On Mon, 17 Mar 2008 18:49:52 -0400, wrote:

Last year was insane

It was so hot and dry and no rain for weeks and weeks

I think i spent an average of $40 a month just on the vegetable garden and
shrubs.

I was thinking of using Hay or Straw I am not sure what I can get

I need something that will reduce water evaporation and not cause growth of
mold.

I really need some hints this year
last year i resorted to letting everything but the zucinni and the tomatoes
die because it was costing too much and taking too much time to water often
2 times a day for 30 minutes or more just for the garden.



Straw is better than hay. I have used compost, cut grass, and plastic
sheeting. The plants mulched with compost responded exceptionally
well.

On 3/17/2008 2:49 PM, wrote:
Last year was insane

It was so hot and dry and no rain for weeks and weeks

I think i spent an average of $40 a month just on the vegetable garden and
shrubs.

I was thinking of using Hay or Straw I am not sure what I can get

I need something that will reduce water evaporation and not cause growth of
mold.

I really need some hints this year
last year i resorted to letting everything but the zucinni and the tomatoes
die because it was costing too much and taking too much time to water often
2 times a day for 30 minutes or more just for the garden.



Like you, my concern is keeping the soil cool and moist. I try to keep
a leaf mulch in my garden year round. Some parts of my garden are
exposed to strong winds; there, I use tree branches or even chicken wire
to hold the leaves in place. Around my camellias (which don't want a
lot of nutrients), I use the output from my officer shredder; this seems
to stay in place better than leaves. Yesterday, I mulched some newly
planted roses with the "fallout" from my ash tree (Fraxinus uhdei), the
annoying fluff that rains down while the tree is in bloom.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening pages at http://www.rossde.com/garden/

wrote in message ...
Last year was insane

It was so hot and dry and no rain for weeks and weeks

I think i spent an average of $40 a month just on the vegetable garden and
shrubs.

I was thinking of using Hay or Straw I am not sure what I can get


For water retention use whatever organic material that you can get that is
cheap and readily available. As others have said the quality as it breaks
down varies. However if my budget allowed for either thick mulch of a cheap
material or only a thin mulch of a higher nutrient material I would choose
thick.

I need something that will reduce water evaporation and not cause growth of
mold.


Not possible, there will always be some mould, fungi are essential to your
garden. The way to reduce mould growing on your plants is to allow air
circulation and avoid splashing water on the leaves and up from the soil, if
possible water the roots only.

I really need some hints this year
last year i resorted to letting everything but the zucinni and the tomatoes
die because it was costing too much and taking too much time to water often
2 times a day for 30 minutes or more just for the garden.


Good thick mulch will save much water - go for it. Is it possible where you
are to install a tank for roof water? This can save you if tap water is
expensive.

David

Charlie wrote

Alfalfa is an *excellant* mulch, and greatly benefits the soil and
plants, nitrogen rich, among other things. Afalfa meal is a great soil
amendment, as well.

Charlie

Alfalfa as in the bale you buy to feed a horse?

Steve

"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message
...

wrote in message ...
Last year was insane

It was so hot and dry and no rain for weeks and weeks

I think i spent an average of $40 a month just on the vegetable garden
and
shrubs.

I was thinking of using Hay or Straw I am not sure what I can get


For water retention use whatever organic material that you can get that is
cheap and readily available.

chopped up leaves (mower or shrededer) but not spread too thickly, dry pine
needles work as a mulch

rob

Thank you for your ideas

Last year I tried to find straw instead of Hay but it is difficult to find

I guess they only keep what horses eat

Alphalpha would be nice if i can get it

Unfortunately we dont have enough trees for leaves and the ones i collect
from the lawn also have random garbage.. small pieces of paper and plastic.
I started saving it but I have decided against it.

Grass Clippings we have but I dont think this is a good idea in a vegetable
garden.

For some reason grass breaks down and gets very hot as it mulches but also
the chemicals on the lawn are probably not so great to be eating even at low
levels.

I dont use pesticides in the garden

I am going to try straw if i can get some

I was also thinking of getting some window screen to provide some shad over
the plants maybe and it might also reduce bugs.

In article , wrote:

Thank you for your ideas

Last year I tried to find straw instead of Hay but it is difficult to find

I guess they only keep what horses eat

Alphalpha would be nice if i can get it

Unfortunately we dont have enough trees for leaves and the ones i collect
from the lawn also have random garbage.. small pieces of paper and plastic.
I started saving it but I have decided against it.

Grass Clippings we have but I dont think this is a good idea in a vegetable
garden.

For some reason grass breaks down and gets very hot as it mulches but also
the chemicals on the lawn are probably not so great to be eating even at low
levels.

I dont use pesticides in the garden

I am going to try straw if i can get some

I was also thinking of getting some window screen to provide some shad over
the plants maybe and it might also reduce bugs.

Alfalfa usually contains 15% protein and "dairy quality" alfalfa can
contain protein levels well over 20%

White clover in its lush stage of growth could contain 22-25% crude
protein on a dry matter basis. Red clover has also been associated with
red urine in some horses. Porphyrins are excreted into the urine and
will oxidize and turn red. This is usually seen during the winter when
horses urinate on the snow.

Grass hay by haying time, their nutrient content will have decreased to
the 9-12% crude protein range, or lower, on a dry matter basis. For the
grasses to be harvested at their highest nutrient content, e.g., 20-22%
protein, they would have to be cut very early in the season before the
seed head has emerged from the boot stage.


Type of Straw Crude protein (CP, %)
Oat 4.4

Barley 4.4

Wheat 3.5

Pea 6.4

Canola 3.9

Lentil 6.4

Might be of use.
--

Billy

Impeach Pelosi, Bush & Cheney to the Hague
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/
http://rachelcorriefoundation.org/