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RecentArchives
SEO by:
Michael Eakes
Web Development by:
Ryan Wright |
plants love humus, tooallow me to approach the claim that a non-invasive influx of organic matter into one's life is a positive event.what is humus? humus is compost. and compost is plant material that has been broken down by soil organisms, micro and small. in an urban context, the process is often helped along by people, but it would get done anyway -- and it is the digesters that are performing wonders. they eat and recycle plant matter, breaking it down into basic elements readily absorbed by existing plant life. NO WASTE, ONLY FOOD. depending on your own garden and the amount available, with compost you may: - spread, around each precious plant in your garden, providing a radius of 8-24", being careful to avoid contact with the crown or stem of the plant -- this can cause rot as the plant would be unable to dry. - spread thickly, after weeding an area of your garden. plants need water, sun and earth. take away any of these, in theory, and unwanted plants cannot survive. (this approach DOES NOT WORK FOR OXALIS, as it uses energy the sun provided long before you mulched) - top dress your whole garden, providing: weed suppression; moisture retention; temperate insulation; a gorgeous brown 'look'; immediate, and slow-release nutrition for all. - turn compost in to beds being prepared for non-native plantings. this fertilizes our sandy bay area substrate, and provides absorbent material so water is retained longer and passes through more slowly. - top dress all potted plants to slow drying of pots (insulating with a second, nested pot also performs this function) - make compost tea to feed the leaves and roots of plants. this. is. complicated. (see www.taunton.com/finegardening/pages/g00030.asp for a thorough explanation) - give any extra compost to neighbors, friends. introduce more organic matter into their lives. this is positive. shanti. shanti. peace. namaste douglas Posted 1/12/2007 link
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holy cold!Have y'all seen the forecast? 23 degrees in Oakland tonight. Mulch is a beautiful buffer against frost. It also is great for moisture retention and weed suppression. So if you were looking for that last reason to procure mulch, a 23 degree low is a great one. If you have recently planted your garden, there is cause for concern. While native plantings are strong, young ones still are tender.Extra mulch is the easiest level of added protection to attain. Simply apply a thicker pad around the crown of the plant (remembering still not to contact the stem itself with the mulch). For individual plants (choose those most delicate or sensitive), bottle, box, or tent. Do you have a plastic bottle? (a two-liter soda bottle, or equivalent) Cut off the bottom and unscrew the cap. 'screw' the bottle down over one plant, protecting it from wind and a little chill, taking care to avoid foliage contact with the container. Lacking such a bottle, use a milk carton, or something else equivalent. Just remember to remove it soon after the weather changes. plants like light :) and air. Cardboard boxes are ready made and any reasonable sized will work also. Any plants that look vulnerable, drop shelter around. Namaste. Douglas Sources of free mulch: -The City of Berkeley processes and returns city green waste -As does the City of San Francisco at the Sunset Scavenger Facility on Tunnel St in the southern quadrant -Bayview Greenwaste, near Candlestick Park, on Carrol offers compost as well If you have a truck, bring it. ONE MAY ALWAYS FIND USES FOR ADDITIONAL COMPOST. Posted 1/12/2007 link
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