View Single Post
Old 08-14-2010, 07:07 PM   #2 (permalink)
Richard
un-Retired
 
Richard's Avatar
 
Location: Vista, CA
Zone: USDA 10b
Name: Richard
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,674
BananaBucks : 994,995
Feedback: 9 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 3,636 Times
Was Thanked 12,537 Times in 4,719 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,685 Times
Default Re: mycorrhizae and mulch relationship?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Darkman View Post
I have read in several posts that mulch is important to mycorrhizae.
Yes, and it is important to most plants in general because it keeps the surface of the soil from drying out too quickly.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Darkman View Post
One post said that the mulch needs to have a one inch diameter.
Yes. Less than that and you are approaching the granularity of compost with does not provide enough aeration, percolation -- and provides a home for the seeds of weeds to grow in. Larger than 1 inch (say, 2 inch or larger) provides too much aeration and allows too much moisture to escape via evaporation.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Darkman View Post
What is the relationship with mulch?
Here it is:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard View Post
... The most cost effective means of innoculating soil with mycorrhizae is to mix in worm castings at the time of planting, then make sure the surface of the ground has a 3 to 4 inch layer of 1-inch diameter mulch to keep the surface from drying out too much. Applied this way, mycorrhizae need only be added once. The population will then remain with the plants unless the soil is deeply treated with an extreme fungicide. Note also that many soils already contain mycorrhizae: the gardener simply needs to put mulch on the surface so that the population can flourish.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Darkman View Post
I thought mycorrhizae had a relationship with the fine root hairs.
Yes. It is not an exclusive partnership.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Darkman View Post
I can get wood chips from tree cutters or I can get pine tree bark mulch. Which is better or is there sometimes else better?
Never use mulch or compost unless it has been thoroughly composted.
__________________
Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com
Richard is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To Richard
Said thanks: