index

Note: Page numbers in italics refer to illustrations.

Airflow, 19, 47, 58, 76

Aluminum foil, 9, 54–55, 66–67

Appearance, 2–3, 2, 10, 21, 27, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 84

Application, 78–79, 79

depth of mulch, 75–78, 84, 85, 86, 88, 117

ease of, 20–21, 63–64

ornamentals, 84, 88–89

quantities needed, 75–76

stem protection, 21, 77, 79, 84, 86, 89, 112

Asparagus, 95–96

Asphalt, 66–67

Availability of mulch, 63

Azaleas, 87

Bark and nuggets, 24, 27–30, 33, 65–67, 75, 81, 84–86, 88, 90, 93

Beans, 41, 96–97

Beets, 97–98

Benefits, mulching 4–10, 5, 6, 7

Berries, 60, 117–19

Broccoli, 57, 98

Buckwheat hulls, 40, 65–67, 78, 93

Bulbs, 29, 93

Burlap, 55, 66–67

Cabbage, 98

Carrots, 99–100

Cauliflower, 57, 100

Celery, 100

Chlorosis, 10, 33, 87

Choosing a mulch, 63–65

Cocoa hulls, 24, 41, 65–67, 84, 85, 88, 93

Coffee grounds, 25–26, 47, 66–67, 76

Cold frame, 62

Compost, 12, 22, 23, 26, 47, 49, 66–67

Containers, 29, 42, 47

Cork, 29, 66–67

Corn, 57, 100–101

Corncobs and cornstalks, 24, 34, 66–67, 78, 80

Cost, 63, 66, 68, 70, 72

Cottonseed hulls, 41–42, 66–67

Cranberry vines, 42, 68–69

Crown rot, 37, 89, 104, 112

Cucumbers, 57, 101–2

Damping off, 17, 97

Depth, mulch, 75–78, 84–86, 88, 117

Disease control, 9, 17, 82, 109

Diseased plants, reuse of, 10

Diseases, mulch-caused, 10, 17, 28, 32–33, 37, 81, 87, 89, 97, 104, 112

Drawbacks to mulching, 14–21

Earthworms, 8, 14–15, 31, 39, 47, 80, 84

Eggplant, 7, 57, 102

Environmental benefits, 1, 10

Erosion control, 8, 27, 29, 55, 58, 83

Eucalyptus, 42, 68–69

Evergreen boughs, 29–30, 68–69, 90, 114, 116

Feeding mulches, 26

Fertilizer, 9–10, 13, 19, 33, 51, 78, 80, 82, 84–87

Fiberglass, 55, 68–69

Fire hazards, 21, 40

Fruits, 9, 57, 60, 99, 107, 109–19, 116

Fungi, 9, 28, 81

Garlic, 102

Geotextiles, 19, 24, 56, 58, 68–69, 84

Grass clippings, 24, 34–35, 65, 68–69, 79

Gravel, 24, 75, 86

Green manures, 25, 35–36, 68–69

Ground covers. See Living mulches

Hay, 2, 13, 15, 17, 19, 24, 26, 36–37, 62, 68–69

application of, 79

salt, 45–46, 72–73, 96

Herbicides, 10, 35

Homemade mulches, 25–26

Hops, 24, 43, 68–69, 79

Humus, 23

Impervious mulches, 5, 17, 19. See also Plastic

Inorganic mulches, 7, 24, 27, 62. See also specific mulches

Insects

beneficial, 36

control of, 9, 42, 55, 58, 98, 102

infested plants, use of, 10

mulch, breeding in, 20

Kale, 102

Kelp. See Seaweed

Leaf mold, 38–39, 68–69, 75, 85, 86, 88

Leaves, 17, 19, 24, 26, 37–38, 38, 47, 68–69, 70–71, 76, 85, 88, 90

Leeks, 102

Lettuce, 103

Licorice root, 43, 68–69, 84, 88

Light, need of soil for, 16–18

Light-reflective mulches, 9, 54–55, 57, 66–67

Living mulches, 24, 35, 68–69, 84

Longevity of mulch, 64–65

Manure, 26, 48, 65, 70–71

Melaleuca tree, 44, 70–71

Melons, 9, 57, 99, 109

Microbes, 9, 17, 39, 80, 84

Microorganisms, 15, 19, 31

Minerals, 9, 37, 46, 51

Molds, 41, 80

Muck, 48, 70–71

Mulch, defined, 23–25

Nematodes, 9, 58, 60

Nitrogen

deficiencies, 15, 18–19, 31, 32, 37, 80

from mulch, 9, 36, 37, 41, 45

supplements, 13, 19, 33, 80

Nutrients, 9–10, 27, 36, 39

Odor, 33, 65

Onions, 103–4

Organic mulches, 7, 8, 19, 27–54, 62. See also specific mulches

definition, 23–24

quantity needed, 75–76

specialty and regional, 40–46

troubleshooting, 80–82

Ornamentals, 77, 83–93. See also Perennials; Shrubs; Trees

Overmulching, 19, 32–33, 76, 77, 84, 86

Oyster shells, 44, 70–71

Pachysandra, 24, 35, 84

Paper mulches, 52–54, 54, 65, 68–71

biodegradable black, 52

felt, 52–53, 68–69

newspaper, 53

pulp, 53, 70–71

Parsley, 104

Parsnips, 104–5

Peanut hulls, 45, 70–71

Peas, 41, 105–6

Peat moss, 17, 21, 48–49, 70–71

Peppers, 7, 57, 106

Perennials, 24, 29, 84, 88–90, 114

Permanent mulches, 24–25, 25, 84

pH, 39, 44, 46, 49, 51, 61, 87

Phosphorus, 9, 37, 41, 45

Pine needles, 17, 39, 70–71, 85, 90

Plant stress, reduction of, 9

Plastic (polyethylene), 24, 57–60, 62, 65, 70–71

aluminized, 9, 55, 57

black, 5, 7, 18, 19, 57, 59, 59, 60, 109

red, 7, 57, 60, 109

troubleshooting, 82

Poison ivy, sumac, or oak, 10

Potash, 51

Potassium, 9, 37, 41, 45

Potatoes, 106–7

Poultry litter, 49–50, 65, 70–71

Pumpkins, 9, 57, 107

Pyrophyllite, 24, 61, 72–73

Quantity of mulch needed, 75–76

Radishes, 107

Refreshing mulch, 19, 76–77, 80, 84

Rhododendrons, 87

Rhubarb, 107

Rice hulls, 45, 72–73

Rodents, 21, 40, 45, 117

Roses, 20, 29, 61, 87, 90–93, 91–92

Sawdust, 18, 21, 30–31, 72–73, 80

Seaweed, 51, 72–73, 78, 80

Seed-free mulches, 26

Seedlings, 34, 62, 78, 99

Seeds, germination of, 17, 78, 99

Selective Reflecting Mulch (SRM), 57, 60, 109

Sheet composting, 12–13, 13, 15, 25, 51, 114

Shredders/chippers, 10, 26, 114

Shrubs, 21, 29, 58, 61, 77, 86–87, 90

Sludge, processed, 50–51, 70–71

Slugs/snails, control of, 20

Sod, mulch on, 12–13, 13

Soil amendments, 8–9, 47–51

Soil compaction, 8, 76

Soil temperature

color of mulch, effect of, 40, 78

control of, 4, 7, 7, 18, 60, 61, 66, 68, 70, 72, 83, 84

high, effect on plants of, 7, 15, 18, 40, 43, 57, 58, 109

Spinach/Swiss chard, 107

Squash, 9, 57, 108

Stem protection, 21, 77, 79, 84, 86, 89, 112

Stone, 24, 25, 27, 61, 64, 72–73, 84, 86

Stout, Ruth, 3, 9, 11–14, 13, 16, 19, 36, 37, 100–101, 103

Straw, 19, 21, 24, 39–40, 65, 72–73, 76, 80, 118

Strawberries, 60, 112, 117–18

Sugarcane (bagasse), 46, 72–73

Summer mulches, 24, 92–93, 112–13

Sweet potatoes, 108

Tomatoes, 7, 9, 57, 58, 60, 108–9

Trees, 21, 58, 61, 77, 85–86, 112, 117

Vegetable gardens, 31, 47, 57, 59, 64, 77–79, 79, 94–109, 95. See also specific vegetables

biosolids in, 50–51

plants, protection of, 9

row beds, 79, 95

wide-row plantings, 41–42

Vermiculite, 62, 72–73

Walnut shells, 46, 72–73, 78

Water

conservation, 1–2, 83–84

penetration, 8, 15, 19, 64, 67, 69, 71, 73

retention, 4, 5, 5, 14–17, 27, 64, 67, 69, 71, 73

Weed control, 4, 6, 6, 14–16, 18, 27, 66, 68, 70, 72, 83

Wickenden, Leonard, 3, 14–16, 20

Winter mulches, 24, 51, 90–92, 111, 114–16, 116, 118

Wood products, 18–19, 27–33, 66–69, 72–73, 81. See also Bark and nuggets; Sawdust

chips, 18, 32–33, 72–73, 80, 84, 85

shavings, 33–34, 72–73

shredded waste, 31, 72–73

Xeriscaping, 1–2

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