Landscape Mulches Recycling Yard Waste and Fertilizing Appropriately

By Adam Pitcher, Extension Hort Assistant, [email protected]

; Tel.: 954-357-5283 John J. Pipoly III, Ph.D., FLS, Extension Agent [email protected]

Landscape Mulches

    

What is mulch?

Mulch

is a layer of material applied over otherwise bare soil. It is specifically used to perform the following services: to conserve moisture to improve the fertility and health of the soil to reduce weed growth to enhance the visual appeal of the area

 

Types of Mulch

Organic materials

 bark, wood chips, leaves, pine needles, grass clippings

Inorganic materials

  gravel, pebbles, rubber, or woven ground cloth NOT recommended; they do not add organic content to soil

Benefits of Organic Mulch

Using mulch can:

   Improve soil Ease maintenance Improve plant performance   Increase drought tolerance Suppress weeds

Melaleuca Mulch

     Harvested from invasive plant stands (YAY!) Retains color Slow decomposition Not attractive to termites Allelopathic properties

Eucalyptus Mulch

    Harvested from Florida plantations Good color retention May repel insects while fresh (~ 3-6 months) Allelopathic properties

Pine Bark/Needles

     Often a byproduct of the timber industry Readily available Helps lower pH/acidify soil Pine Bark will decompose slower=last longer Needles will decompose faster=more acid

Cypress Mulch

     Often harvested from wild Cypress stands Not recommended as origins may be difficult to determine Maintains color Slow decomposition May be eaten by termites

Dyed Mulch

 Typically made from recycled pallets  Buy from a reputable source to ensure:   Wood is not pressure treated Dyes are nontoxic, such as soybean based inks

   

Rubber Mulch

Made from recycled rubber/tires Unknown composition & effects Does not decompose Does not add organic matter to the soil!

Gravel, Pebbles, & Stones

     Available in a variety of colors/sizes Permanent; often alkaline Fireproof/insect-proof Lawn mowers can pick up and throw the stones!

Reflect/absorb solar radiation, generating heat

How Much?

 

Maintain 3-4 inches of mulch BUT… Allow 1-2 inches of space between mulch and plant base

 Constant contact with moisture on the plant can result in wood/root rot due to fungal and bacterial pathogens

Recycling Yard Waste

Recycled Yard Waste

   Did you know? Florida law prohibits disposal of yard waste in lined landfills!

Retain the nutrients in your own landscape!

Save money on fertilizer, mulch, and waste disposal



Grasscycling

Grass clippings can be left on the lawn

 Saves money- This is equivalent to about one fertilizer application per year!

 Saves time 

Remove only 1/3 of the grass blade Grasscycling does not result in thatch build-up! Thatch is stem & root overgrowth caused by cutting too low and/or improper-watering.

Composting at Home

Overview:

1) Choosing a Container 2) 3) 4) Assembling the Pile Maintaining the Pile Using Finished Compost

Compost Bins

Purchase a compost bin or build your own. Consider:

 Appearance  Size-

at least 1 cubic yard

 Accessibility- to add materials and remove finished compost  Ability to mix materials inside  Pest access

A bin is not necessary, but useful for deterring pests and keeping the pile neat.

Compostable Materials

Nitrogen-Rich

 Grass clippings  Manure  Vegetable & fruit food scraps  Coffee grounds

Carbon-Rich

 Shredded branches  Uncolored Paper  Pine needles  Old Leaves

Materials to Avoid

 Do NOT add:  Meat or dairy products     Oils or mayonnaise Plants recently treated with herbicides/pesticides Seed-laden weeds Pressure treated wood

Provide Oxygen & Water

    Without oxygen & water, microbes become less active & less efficient   Decomposition slows down May create bad odors Incorporate bulky materials like twigs & wood chips to provide air space Turn pile often to increase air exposure DO NOT ALLOW IT TO DRY OUT!

Using Compost

   Apply to plant beds as a soil amendment Use as mulch Blend with sand, peat, and perlite for a potting media

Layer 1”-2” of compost underneath decorative mulch to save money and improve soil fertility.

Fertilize Appropriately

Fertilizer Label

N P K Nitrogen Phosphorous Potassium

Guaranteed analysis = percent by weight For example… 16-4-8 Net weight = 100 lbs bag of fertilizer

Actual Nitrogen: 16% x 100 lbs = 16 lbs N Actual Phosphorous: 4% x 100 lbs = 4 lbs P Actual Potassium: 8% x 100 lbs = 8 lbs K

16 + 4 + 8 = 28 lbs of NUTRIENTS , 100 – 28 = 72 lbs of FILLER!

What Kinds are Available?

Rapid release is quickly dissolved and immediately available to plant for a short period of time.

Slow release Nitrogen is slowly dissolved and is available over a much longer period of time.

Release Patterns of Fertilizers

Plants not getting needs met with

100--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

controlled release (3-4 wks)

80--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Soluble

60---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Controlled release

40------

Plant Needs Plants not getting needs met with soluble (9 wks)

0----- 0 4 8 12 WEEKS 16 20 24

Some Forms of Fertilizers are Available with Other Additives

Systemic Pesticide Herbicides

Where to Place Fertilizer

Too Close!

When Fertilizers Won’t Work

Improper Watering pH too high Soil Compositio n Nematodes Root Problem s Fertilizer Placement

Oxygen Nitrogen Phosphorous Potassium Calcium Iron Manganese Boron Copper Zinc

Older

leaves

Newer

leaves

Nitrogen

– Uniform yellowing of older leaves

Potassium

- Brown spots on older leaves

Iron/Manganese

- Green veins, yellow in between veins of new leaves

Boron –

Twisting and pleating of new leaves

Trunk Constriction on Palms

Healthy Palm

Thanks for your attention!

The following presentation was made possible through a grant from FL DEP and EPA. Special thanks to the following reviewers for their valued contributions:

FL114 ELM Design Team and the FYN Subcommittee Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, UF Agriculture Education and Communication Department Environmental Horticulture Department Entomology and Nematology Department Soil and Water Sciences Department Florida Cooperative Extension Service in: Alachua, Broward, Clay, Hillsborough, Lake, Miami-Dade, Orange, Pinellas, Sarasota, and Volusia Counties Florida Organics Recycling Center for Excellence The Center For Wetlands, UF United States Department of Agriculture FL Department of Agriculture & Consumer Sciences: Division of Plant Industry

Note: Adapted from FFL presentation by Rebecca McNair

UF-IFAS Broward County Extension Education Section Parks and Recreation Division http://www.broward.org/PARKS/EXTENSION/URBANHORTICULTURE/Pages/Default.aspx

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