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bower · September 7, 2017

I suppose the ashes of the weeds also return some elements to the soil.
It also makes sense to use a mulch that contributes something to the soil when it breaks down.
I used alder leaves on one of my beds last year, and they broke down pretty quick. and seemed to do a good job of protection, at least with few misses. Really like the kelp though, but the type of seaweed does make a differerence, the real kelps are heavy and make a good cover when you put them on and yet they break down from the underside when the top is dried. You'd need truckloads of it for a farm though.

Using a solid mulch that suppresses weeds for a full growing season should make a difference the following year, I mean that after the garlic the bed should be less weedy overall? Let us know, PH, whether weeds were fairly well suppressed for the crop that follows.

September 7, 2017	#141
bower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 6,793	I suppose the ashes of the weeds also return some elements to the soil. It also makes sense to use a mulch that contributes something to the soil when it breaks down. I used alder leaves on one of my beds last year, and they broke down pretty quick. and seemed to do a good job of protection, at least with few misses. Really like the kelp though, but the type of seaweed does make a differerence, the real kelps are heavy and make a good cover when you put them on and yet they break down from the underside when the top is dried. You'd need truckloads of it for a farm though. Using a solid mulch that suppresses weeds for a full growing season should make a difference the following year, I mean that after the garlic the bed should be less weedy overall? Let us know, PH, whether weeds were fairly well suppressed for the crop that follows.