Best top layer ( mulching)

Ok guys. So I need a few TLO friendly mulch ideas. I'm scared to go with a cover crop as I'm still new to organics and recycling soil.

I want to use something which will recycle well when i go to reuse my soil.

I've used. Straight perlite and cedar composted mulch.

I also want to use something to proactively fight gnats and other pest.

I've thought of using per light nice with diatomaceous earth ?? Horrible idea let me know. I figure the silica in de could potentially help next rounds in soil.

I like barley mulch, canna mulch works good too. I use both. Don't be afraid of live companion crops, they work very well and eventually die out and turn into mulch.

I have used sand helps with drainage when remixed but honestly since I have been using same soil now for a bit I don't have bug problems anymore. I only have gnats etc when I have to add new/more soil cause it disappears lol

I'm one of those people that just deals with the problem from the start and still worry. Honestly everyone should be this way. I have mites that eat the larva but I also use d-earth then top layer with gonats it's 100% recycled glass and reflects light from the roots. I've been up for 50 hours so forgive my speech lol.

green_machine_two9er said:

Ok guys. So I need a few TLO friendly mulch ideas. I'm scared to go with a cover crop as I'm still new to organics and recycling soil.

I want to use something which will recycle well when i go to reuse my soil.

I've used. Straight perlite and cedar composted mulch.

I also want to use something to proactively fight gnats and other pest.

I've thought of using per light nice with diatomaceous earth ?? Horrible idea let me know. I figure the silica in de could potentially help next rounds in soil.

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I've found that mulches and gnats will go hand in hand, it creates a perfect environment for them.
the BEST to keep gnats away is simply a layer of sand on top of your media.
OR get a good leaf compost and mix in some BTI with it prior.
Is your need for mulch for it's water retaining properties? Or humus content?
What is your primary goal with it?

greasemonkeymann said:

I've found that mulches and gnats will go hand in hand, it creates a perfect environment for them.
the BEST to keep gnats away is simply a layer of sand on top of your media.
OR get a good leaf compost and mix in some BTI with it prior.
Is your need for mulch for it's water retaining properties? Or humus content?
What is your primary goal with it?

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Keep soil life from drying out. And water retention.

foreverflyhi said:

I like barley mulch, canna mulch works good too. I use both. Don't be afraid of live companion crops, they work very well and eventually die out and turn into mulch.

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Which would you recommend?

I have had knat issues. 2 weeks of low water and d.earth will kill em. Throw d.earth on top layer of dirt after every watering, top of soil being dry ofcoarse and then after you think you got the problem solved throw some straw on top, I like straw, you can compost it with other amendments and it works as a killer mulch after transplants. Microbelife does wonders, also look into crabshell meal, it creates a special breed of bacteria that can eat insects in soil. I read that from a known source, I try to keep critters away as much as possible.

My new soil which is cooking I added crab meel for that very reason. Thanks for the ideas straw does seem like a good idea.

For fungus nats you can sprinkle a couple tablespoons or neem meal and kelp meal on the surface and cover with ewc or compost.

green_machine_two9er said:

Keep soil life from drying out. And water retention.

Which would you recommend?

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to keep your soil from drying out, and for water retention i'd suggest using a leaf compost that is broken down and mixing that with BTI and neem meal.

Fyi wood mulches are not good for fruit bearing plants, cant rememeber why but here is an article that support not using wood mulch and has other better options. I mulch with coco to aid in water retention since I have a mostly peat base and we all know how much a pain in the ass it is to rwhydrate peat when it gets too dry. Hours of slow hand watering. I also mulch with crab meal and havnt had any gnats since. Havnt got around to ordering neem meal and will soon but crab meal knocked out the gnats for me. They were getting bad last summer too before I got crab meal.

Just so I am not spouting random shit out there wood mulch take time and primarily fungi to break down. Excellent mulch for trees that prefer a fungi dominant soil. Most fruit bearing plants including canna prefer a bacteria dominant soil. I used a wood mulch in my vege garden last year and it was not the best garden and I think it was the wood chips I used in the raised beds, not just around it.

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/mg/Gardennotes/715.html
there is a decent mulch article

The mulch is an integral part of no till, as it is the beginning source for the entire food web chain that keeps the soil alive as it breaks down, feeds the herd and becomes nutritious growing medium.

We are some soil nerds. I use to think subcool knew his shit till he started running chemical bottle nutes. The rev is the guy I love to read. You guys are very knowledgeable as well. I used pinetree mulch this summer in outdoor garden, big mistake.

Clovers are just too cute

May11th said:

I use to think subcool knew his shit till he started running chemical bottle nutes. The rev is the guy I love to read.

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If you're impressed with those clowns you should Google LumperDawgz2 and Clackamas Coot...you'll cum all over yourself.

He uses REAL science...not the stoner bullshit

Thanks man I'll have to do that. I deff think there are some growers that should have the spotlight forsure. I bet there are a ton of guys exceeding 30% thc and not even having a clue.

May11th said:

We are some soil nerds. I use to think subcool knew his shit till he started running chemical bottle nutes. The rev is the guy I love to read. You guys are very knowledgeable as well. I used pinetree mulch this summer in outdoor garden, big mistake.

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Yeah , pinetree mulch is bad... but redwood tree mulch is ok, I have found redwood needles degrade pretty fast, and when you couple that with some leaves, alfalfa, comfrey and fresh rotting bull kelp and you have a nice compost pile.
Oh and don't forget the minerals too, I like rock phosphates and greensand, even thought the greensand doesn't break down for a while, I figure 6-7 months in a thermocompost should help a lil.

greasemonkeymann said:

Yeah , pinetree mulch is bad... but redwood tree mulch is ok, I have found redwood needles degrade pretty fast, and when you couple that with some leaves, alfalfa, comfrey and fresh rotting bull kelp and you have a nice compost pile.
Oh and don't forget the minerals too, I like rock phosphates and greensand, even thought the greensand doesn't break down for a while, I figure 6-7 months in a thermocompost should help a lil.

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Whats wrong with pine bark mulch? I've been using pine bark mulch as a mulch for about a year and I don't see any problems. Another grower I know uses it in his soil mix for the last 30+ years and says the only time he had any problems with it was when he quit using it based on what everyone on the Internet was telling him. Just saying....

And if you want minerals you should look into glacial rock dust, basalt, or granite meal. Those will actually benefit the plant within its life as opposed to greensand...