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All about Mulching

By Ila Pachauri

Mulching is the addition of undecomposed plant materials such as straw, hay, dried leaves, wood shavings, saw dust, paper, compost or processors ' refuse to the soil under the plants.

Mulching is a ultimate way to reduce evaporation, maintain even soil temperature, prevent erosion, control weeds, enrich the soil, or keep fruits like strawberry safe .

Mulch reduces soil water losses, suppresses weeds, and protects against temperature extremes, especially in places where it snows by preventing freezing of roots. Mulch also feeds soil biology as it decomposes, helping to create healthy, living soil. And don't we all know that healthy soil means healthy plants!

While Compost is best at adding nutrients to the soil and improving soil structure, mulch is best at limiting weed growth, preventing erosion and retaining soil moisture. Indian summers are harsh for plants ... Mulching is really a great idea to save the plant soil from excessive heat and loss of moisture. Mulches serve initially to warm the soil by helping it retain heat which is lost during the night. This allows early seeding and transplanting of certain crops and encourages faster growth. As the season progresses, mulch stabilize the soil temperature and moisture, and prevent the growing of weeds from seeds. Mulch layers are normally 2 inches or deeper when applied.

Materials used as mulches vary according to the purpose. They are-

Organic residues: Grasses, leaves, hay, straw, shredded bark, sawdust, shells, woodchips, newspaper, cardboard, wool, animal manure, etc.

Compost: Materials that are free of seeds are ideally used, to prevent weeds being introduced by the mulch.

Old carpet (synthetic or natural)

Rubbers

Plastic mulch

Rock and gravels

Types of mulches

Organic Mulches- Commonly available organic mulches are leaves, grass clippings, peat moss, wood chips, bark chips, straw, carpet etc. Organic mulches decay over time and are temporary. Soil mulch or dust mulch- Loosened soil surface acts as mulch to reduce evaporation. Inter cultivation creates soil or dust mulch in growing crops.

Coloured mulch- such types of mulches are wavelength selective and are used to absorb some wavelength from solar radiation and maintain leaf temperature. Thus, these helps in plant growth and development.

Plastic mulch- some plastic materials like polyethylene and polypropylene are used. Polyethylene is used mainly for weed reduction, while polypropylene is used mainly on perennials This mulch is placed on top of the soil to prevent soil erosion, reduce wedding, conserve soil moisture, and increase temperature of the soil.

Biodegradable mulch– These are plant starches / sugars /polyester fibres that come from plants such as wheat and corn. These mulch films may be a bit more permeable allowing more water into the soil. This mulch can prevent soil erosion, reduce weeding, conserve soil moisture, and increase temperature of the soil.

All in all, resource management, recycling of waste and upcycled waste material can help in retaining good health of plants .

Neeta Manwani Numerologist and healer

House Number 5

A very active energetic number that invites exploration and risk, not quiet and peaceful.

It favours communication and media connection with people, travelling adventure, pleasure and freedom. But these numbers don’t tend to be permanent addresses and people have a sense of unpredictability.

House Number 6

It relates to warmth, cheer, beauty and compassion. This is a wonderful family house and favours love and abundance. But it invokes strong responsibilities.

House Number 7

This number denotes peaceful meditative, spiritual atmosphere & favours personal development but certain health issues would be there in this house. Number 7 also favours learning and studying philosophy .

House Number 8

This number denotes a home business, but not necessarily family life. Women in this house will have a lot of worries and health problems. Also there would be fewer prospects of income in this house.

House Number 9

It favours spiritual leadership, empathy and unconditional love, teaching and family, but there would always be tension in this house, children of the house will be well educated but possibly some anger issues within the house

These are a few general traits we have discussed but more details can be saught after checking the compatibility with your date of birth which requires proper numerology reading so that you can understand whether this house address and house number are suitable for You and your family members or not .

If it doesn't suit then there is no need to change the address, we have some easy remedies in numerology that can help to change the vibration of your address and you can prosper peacefully and happily in your house.