GENERAL SPECIFICATION (Ac.) 484 Mulch Materials and Uses Mulch Uses Mulch Thickness Conserves Moderates Erosion Control Suppress Est. Veg. Improves Reduce Comments Material of Soil Moisture Soil Temp. Weeds Cover Soil Fertility airborne Application particulates Peat Moss 1 inch Poor Fair Poor Poor Fair - Good Fair Poor Poor Subject Expensive, value is in – Forms crust, out crust, can be Decomposes to wind conditioning the soil. repels water, easily, must washed and blown away slowly, adds blowing Most effective as mulch draws be kept very little around ornamentals. moisture damp nutrients to from soil the soil Sawdust* 1 2 inches Fair Good Poor Fair Good Poor Poor F Fair air Best used for garden – – (partially Can crust When kept Can wash away Very High paths and around rotted or 3 4 inches preventing moist C:N ratio ornamentals and trees – decomposed) (Trees) water plantings. Fresh saw penetration dust can crust. Cotton Hulls* 1 - 2 inches Good Good Fair Good Poor Good Fair Subject Wind and water can to wind remove blowing Compost 1 - 4 inches Good Good Poor - Fair Good Fair Good Good May be expensive. Can be washed away When Excellent for enriching applied in the soil thick layer
GENERAL SPECIFICATION (Ac.) 484 Mulch Materials and Uses Mulch Uses Mulch Material Thickness of Application Conserves Soil Moisture Moderates Soil Temp. Erosion Control Suppress Weeds Est. Veg. Cover Improves Soil Fertility Reduce airborne particulates Comments Peat Moss 1 inch Poor Forms crust, repels water, draws moisture from soil Fair – Poor out easily, must be kept damp Poor crust, can be washed and blown away Fair - Good Fair Poor Decomposes slowly, adds very little nutrients to the soil Poor Subject to wind blowing Expensive, value is in conditioning the soil. Most effective as mulch around ornamentals. Sawdust* (partially rotted or decomposed) 1 – 2 inches 3 – 4 inches (Trees) Fair Can crust preventing water penetration Good When kept moist Poor – Fair Can wash away Good Poor Poor Very High C:N ratio F Fair air Best used for garden paths and around ornamentals and trees plantings. Fresh saw dust can crust. Cotton Hulls* 1 - 2 inches Good Good Fair Wind and water can remove Good Poor Good Fair Subject to wind blowing Compost 1 - 4 inches Good Good Poor - Fair Can be washed away Good When applied in thick layer Fair Good Good May be expensive. Excellent for enriching the soil
DRAFT484GS_040618.docx