Crop mulching is becoming an everyday occurrence on a growing number of nursery farms. Many nurserymen have been convinced by this method of weed control in pots, but some still have doubts. Why invest in a complete potting mulching system?
1. MULCH LIMITS WEED GROWTH – good mulch is designed to limit weed control. By blocking light from reaching the pot’s surface, weeds do not have enough strength to grow. It also creates a mechanical blockage through which small seedlings are hindered in their growth. The effectiveness of the mulch depends on the proper distribution of the product on the surface of the pot, which is facilitated by sprinklers (such as Willburg or Martin Stolze). Buckwheat hull mulch, Santop also reduces the growth of liverworts, which are often more troublesome compared to “ordinary” weeds.
2. MULCH REDUCES PLEASING COSTS – By reducing weed growth, you automatically reduce the number of people engaged in weeding and the time required to do so. This directly reduces labor costs. Any weeds will be perfectly visible against the background of the mulch, ensuring that unwanted guests can be easily tracked and removed in no time. The absence of weedy pots also means that there is no secondary sowing of weed seeds.
3. LIMITATION OF LOSS IN DONUTS – Weeds need water and nutrients to grow, which are supplied to the soil. They take them up, and as they grow, the demand for these nutrients increases, limiting fertilizer and water presses for the target plant. The substrate is also lost in the process of weeding. Each time we reduce the amount of substrate in the pots, we reduce the space for the development of the root system, and this results in a smaller and weaker plant. This is worth keeping in mind, especially considering the prices of fertilizers and substrates that are used in nurseries.
4. LIMITATION OF DRY DONUTS – an aspect that is very important, especially in places that have limited water resources and face the problem of “drought”. The use of mulch has the effect of reducing the drying of pots, and this translates into the need to water less frequently and with less water.
5. ESTHETICS – a nice mulch can positively affect the appearance of plants, which in turn can affect their sales. Pots that are kept clean and free of weeds will be more readily chosen by customers than those that are dirty and neglected.
6. REDUCE CHEMISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT – one method of controlling weeds in pots is the use of various types of herbicides. It is up to nurserymen to decide which method to use for weed control. In our opinion, reducing the amount of chemicals used in crop production should be a priority among growers, and mulching is an ideal tool to eliminate herbicides.
7. AUTOMATIZATION OF PRODUCTION – dosing of mulch into pots gives the best results using special sprinklers. With these machines, it is possible to fully automate the process easily, achieving the recommended thicknesses and achieving optimum yields both on the side of the mulch used and the number of pots sown. The incorporation of sprinkling machines should be possible in any type of potting machine-based line and is not the least bit problematic both mechanically and in terms of communication.
