Tomatoville® Gardening Forums - View Single Post - Weed control

fonseca · May 16, 2017

I can tell you what I won't be using any more: pine bark. Endless hiding places for slugs, snails and earwigs. But it can be incorporated into the mix at the end of the year, which I prefer.

I used to use coir husk chips, which slugs and snails don't seem to like crawling over, but prices have shot up too much in recent years. If I could find 50lb bales on the cheap I would use it again. This is the best container mulch IMO, and also a great structural amendment for soilless mixes.

I have several bags of partially composted mulched oak leaves. I used this on some containers last year and it seemed to attract earwigs like crazy. They can do a lot of damage to a flowering plant.

I have cut coco mats to fit containers in the past, and while it was good to keep pests out and prevent splashing of soilless mix onto plants, it can't be incorporated into the mix at the end of the year, but is not in good enough shape to reuse next season. Also $.

I don't like plastic mulch for containers, even large 100 G ones, because it limits air circulation in the soilless mix. When I grew in the ground in VA I found it to be ideal for tomatoes grown in rows, no weeds. Cover with straw to keep cool.

I purchased a straw bale this year, and might chop it up with the lawn mower, use as mulch and then lightly seed over it with mini clover. I have already seeded a few containers with mini clover. I have used it as a living mulch in the past as it only gets 1-2" tall, but over a long season it can build up a thick rootmass and I don't want it competing for container space or nutrients.

Spiders seem to love straw mulch, and they are welcome guests.

My main reason for mulching is to keep soil temps down and exclude pests and disease, as I recycle my mix.

May 16, 2017	#12
fonseca Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 205	I can tell you what I won't be using any more: pine bark. Endless hiding places for slugs, snails and earwigs. But it can be incorporated into the mix at the end of the year, which I prefer. I used to use coir husk chips, which slugs and snails don't seem to like crawling over, but prices have shot up too much in recent years. If I could find 50lb bales on the cheap I would use it again. This is the best container mulch IMO, and also a great structural amendment for soilless mixes. I have several bags of partially composted mulched oak leaves. I used this on some containers last year and it seemed to attract earwigs like crazy. They can do a lot of damage to a flowering plant. I have cut coco mats to fit containers in the past, and while it was good to keep pests out and prevent splashing of soilless mix onto plants, it can't be incorporated into the mix at the end of the year, but is not in good enough shape to reuse next season. Also $. I don't like plastic mulch for containers, even large 100 G ones, because it limits air circulation in the soilless mix. When I grew in the ground in VA I found it to be ideal for tomatoes grown in rows, no weeds. Cover with straw to keep cool. I purchased a straw bale this year, and might chop it up with the lawn mower, use as mulch and then lightly seed over it with mini clover. I have already seeded a few containers with mini clover. I have used it as a living mulch in the past as it only gets 1-2" tall, but over a long season it can build up a thick rootmass and I don't want it competing for container space or nutrients. Spiders seem to love straw mulch, and they are welcome guests. My main reason for mulching is to keep soil temps down and exclude pests and disease, as I recycle my mix.