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organic mulch is applied. More elaborate sheet mulching involves more layers. Sheet mulching is used to transform a variety of surfaces into a fertile soil that can be planted. Sheet mulching can be applied to a lawn, a dirt lot full of perennial weeds, an area with poor soil, or even pavement or a rooftop.
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in place, mimics nature by breaking down organic material from the topmost layers down. The simplest form of sheet mulching consists of applying a bottom layer of decomposable material, such as cardboard or newspapers, to the ground to kill existing vegetation and suppress weeds. Then, a top layer of
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Most of the materials required to sheet mulch can be collected at no cost, and materials can be substituted for those readily available in certain areas. For instance, suburban areas may have a plentiful supply of leaves, and farming communities may have spoiled hay and
98:. This suppresses the weeds by blocking sunlight, adds nutrients to the soil as weed matter quickly decays beneath the barrier, and increases the mechanical stability of the growing medium.
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are attracted to the area. While they are a natural part of the ecosystem that transforms the weed barrier into rich soil, they can pose a hazard to nearby wood-framed structures.
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Some varieties of grasses and weeds may be beneficial in a number of ways. Such plants can be controlled and used rather than eradicated. See also:
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Before step 4, an initial layer (2–3 kg/m) of matter rich in nutrients (such as compost or manure) may be added to bolster decomposition.
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39:. When deployed properly and in combination with other permaculture principles, it can generate healthy, productive, and low maintenance
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A layer (around 10 cm thick) of weed-free soil, rich in nutrients is added, in an attempt to mimic the surface soil, or
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Often the barrier is applied a few months before planting to ensure the penetration of roots of newly planted seeds.
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populations may increase during the early stages of decomposition. However they can be kept away or harvested.
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A layer (at most 15 cm thick) of weed-free, woody and leafy matter is added in an attempt to mimic the
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435:Łachacz, Andrzej; Kalisz, Barbara; Sowiński, Paweł; Smreczak, Bożena; Niedźwiecki, Jacek (March 2023).
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This article is about mulching in permaculture. For the similar but more general technique, see
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The system may need a constant supply of organic material, at least during the early stages.
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437:"Transformation of Organic Soils Due to Artificial Drainage and Agricultural Use in Poland"
116:. Theoretically, the soil is now ready to receive the desirable plant seeds or transplants.
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The soil is then covered with a thin layer of slowly decomposing material (known as the
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The area of interest is flattened by trimming down existing plant species such as
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Sheet mulch has important advantages relative to conventional methods, such as
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The soil is moisturized (if needed) to facilitate the activity of decomposers.
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160:, involves using buried logs and branches as the first layer of the bed.
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technique that attempts to mimic the natural soil-building process in
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Sheets of newspaper and clothing can be used instead of cardboard.
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572:. Annual Conference. California: California Weed Science Society.
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612:
608:
566:"Use of Less-Toxic Herbicides and Sheet Mulching in Landscapes"
414:(2nd ed.). White River Junction, Vt.: Chelsea Green Pub.
345:"Sheet Mulching: Greater Plant and Soil Health for Less Work"
67:
A model for sheet mulching consists of the following steps:
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Roaming animals may interrupt the sheet mulching process.
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Improvement of desirable plants' health and productivity.
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Retention of water and nutrients and stabilization of
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Very thick barriers can cause anaerobic conditions.
412:Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture
217:Reduction of overall maintenance labor and costs.
239:) may persist under the barrier and within the
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374:(Second ed.). Collingwood, Vic.: CSIRO.
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508:, Skyhorse Publishing Inc., p. 228,
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996:Habitat management equipment and methods
343:Elevitch, Craig; Wilkinson, Kim (1998).
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824:Permaculture Institute of El Salvador
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584:"Sheet Mulching from the Ground Up"
476:Stout, Ruth (February–March 2004).
210:Avoidance of potentially dangerous
505:The Ultimate Guide to Permaculture
347:. Agroforestry.net. Archived from
231:Some weed seeds (such as those of
156:One variation of mulching, called
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804:Centre for Alternative Technology
132:Some permaculturists incorporate
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541:. StopWaste.Org. Archived from
63:Typical layers of natural soil.
819:Permaculture College Australia
46:Sheet mulching, also known as
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121:Variations and considerations
78:The soil is analyzed and its
502:Nicole Faires (4 May 2012),
834:Pomona College Organic Farm
814:Permaculture Action Network
776:Three Sisters (agriculture)
454:10.3390/agriculture13030634
1012:
588:Water Conservation Program
15:
920:
203:, and prevention of soil
809:Permaculture Association
564:Phelps, Dave R. (2013).
214:, especially herbicides.
151:list of beneficial weeds
82:is adjusted (if needed).
991:Sustainable agriculture
410:Hemenway, Toby (2009).
372:Sustainable Agriculture
852:People in permaculture
771:Spent mushroom compost
64:
679:Synergistic gardening
592:City of Santa Barbara
570:2013 CWSS Proceedings
478:"Ruth Stout's System"
62:
725:Raised-bed gardening
370:Mason, John (2003).
351:on December 10, 2002
136:in steps 5 and/or 6.
829:Plants for a Future
710:Holzer Permaculture
31:is an agricultural
887:Patrick Whitefield
799:Beacon Food Forest
695:Companion planting
545:on October 1, 2011
303:Ecosystem approach
190:biochemical cycles
65:
981:Organic gardening
958:
957:
844:Permaculturalists
751:Composting toilet
515:978-1-62087-316-8
482:Mother Earth News
421:978-1-60358-029-8
381:978-0-643-06876-6
298:Ecological design
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705:Grassed waterway
700:Forest gardening
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594:. March 11, 2014
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539:"Sheet Mulching"
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986:Permaculture
976:Horticulture
897:Paul Wheaton
892:Paul Stamets
877:Geoff Lawton
729:
664:Mycoforestry
659:Ecosynthesis
640:Permaculture
596:. Retrieved
587:
578:
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547:. Retrieved
543:the original
519:, retrieved
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485:. Retrieved
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371:
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353:. Retrieved
349:the original
177:or applying
168:
110:forest floor
91:weed barrier
89:
66:
45:
28:
25:permaculture
22:
912:Sepp Holzer
882:Ianto Evans
867:David Blume
674:Polyculture
654:Agroecology
549:November 9,
487:November 9,
441:Agriculture
355:November 9,
288:Agroecology
158:Hügelkultur
965:Categories
950:Wiktionary
907:Ruth Stout
744:Components
688:Techniques
447:(3): 634.
314:References
212:pesticides
179:herbicides
165:Advantages
134:composting
48:composting
41:ecosystems
761:Leaf mold
756:Folkewall
735:Waru Waru
463:2077-0472
201:soil life
114:O horizon
103:A horizon
96:cardboard
55:Technique
930:Category
781:Tree bog
647:Sciences
266:See also
247:Termites
237:bindweed
940:Commons
221:manure.
205:erosion
175:plowing
171:tilling
73:grasses
37:forests
598:May 8,
521:3 July
512:
461:
418:
378:
766:Mulch
147:mulch
112:, or
18:Mulch
600:2022
551:2011
523:2012
510:ISBN
489:2011
459:ISSN
416:ISBN
376:ISBN
357:2011
253:Slug
449:doi
43:.
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
