Advanced Master Gardener Land Care

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Advanced Master GardenerLand Care

• Unit 3 Reuse Yardwaste
• Frank Reilly

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Unit 3 Reuse Yardwaste

• OBJECTIVES
• Understand the concept of reusing yardwaste
  through mulching.
• Understand how to mulch and the benefits of
  mulching.
• Brush piles and other creative uses of yardwaste
• GrassCycling
• Understanding Yardwaste Management
• Mulching as a yardwaste management tool
• Mulching materials
• Uses for mulch
• The benefits of mulching

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Review Materials
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Understand the concept of reusing yardwaste
through mulching.

• Mulch to
• Retain soil moisture
• Control Weeds
• Prevent soil compaction prevent erosion
• Moderate soil temperature (Summer Winter)
• Reduce plant disease
• Provide crop protection
• Better appearance
• Underwear concept!

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AExcellent BGood CFair DPoor
FUnsatisfactory
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Mulch

• Mulch volumes to cover to a 1 inch depth
• 1 cubic yard covers 324 ft2
• 1 cubic foot covers 12 ft2
• Calculate yd 3 for your garden
• Area to be mulched (Feet) X Depth (inches)
• 324
• Or http//www.gardenplace.com/content/calculator/
  mulch_calc.html

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Mulch Problems

• Sour Mulch
• High nitrogen in grass clippings
• Matting in leaves
• Weed seeds in compost
• Alleleopathy
• CN ratio deficiencies
• Over-mulching
• Artillery fungus
• Other novel fungi

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Novel Fungi from Mulch

• Visit Tom Volk or write him
• http//tomvolkfungi.net/

http//botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/jul2005.ht
ml
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Mulch Timing

• Perennial Beds Early
• Annual beds when planting or after seeds sprout
• Trees/Shrubs whenever
• Vegetable sets when planting renew
• Vegetable seeds after sprouting.

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Preparing Mulch

• Chipper shredder bigger IS better
• Lawn mower
• Safety First
• Composting

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Proper Mulching

• Check Soil Moisture
• Check depth
• Refresh by raking
• 2-4 inches or less
• out to drip line
• No closer than 2-4 in to trunk

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Problems with too much mulch
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Brush piles

• Brush Piles attract wildlife
• Some communities do not allow brush shelters
• Some neighbors might not understand their value
• Use stone piles in your shelter as part of the
  base to create hiding places and along the edges
  to serve as basking sites

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Brush piles

• Give them structure
• To avoid toppling, or too rapid decomposition
• Make them large
• 4-8 ft tall by 10-25 ft around
• With openings inside
• Exclude predators but allow access to smaller
  animals.

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Brush piles

• Isolated piles are not likely to be used
• Brush piles are flammable. Keep them away from
  buildings and trees
• Create three or four brush piles per acre
• Plant native vines such as wild grape,
  honeysuckle, and trumpet creeper
• Rot and decay are a normal process of brush piles

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GrassCycling

• Leave the clippings
• Free fertilizer
• Decomposition is really fast
• Even clumps break down fast
• Mulching mower
• Sharp Blade
• Mow when dry

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Benefits of GrassCycling

• Reduce yard waste by 20 - 40 or more.
• Save time, trouble and expense of bagging or
  putting yard waste in cans
• Save gas and energy required to transport and
  process grass clippings
• Reduce the need for fertilizer by one-third
• Reduce the demand for water
• Reduce negative impact on water quality from
  erosion and pesticide application
• Provide moisture and nutrients to the soil and
  cushioning layers to reduce wear
•  Leaving grass clippings on your lawn can
  generate up to 25 of the lawn's yearly
  fertilizer needs
• Lawns stay greener and healthier when clippings
  are left on them.
• Grass clippings don't cause thatch.

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Novel Reuses

• Grapevine wreaths
• Fallen wood in the landscape/pond
• Fallen wood or sapling fencing
• Planters
• Dried grasses and flowers
• Feeders