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Mulch type

For pepper plants, should I get tree bark or just sprinkle vermiculite on the top?
 
I need to apply some mulch to my plants the soil is heatinng up like crazy and also loosing water. I hear tree bark is okay since peppers don't mind slightly acidic soil?
 
       I am using ceder mulch,and it does a good job retaining moisture and keeping the weeds down.I have heard new mulch takes some of the nitrogen out of the soil,but as it breaks down it releases it back.Check with others on this.
 
In-ground plants?  Vermiculite would not be a good idea.  Can you get wood chips?  Compost would even work. 
 
black plastic mulch for raised beds / fields.
5-18-11%20Plastic%20much%20with%20cukes%20MATHIEU.jpg

 
It would be too hard(in my opinion) to cut for containers, so any wood mulch would work i guess.
 
I have been wondering what is best for this also.  I have some in containers and some in a raised bed. I planned on using grass clippings and maybe buying some straw.
 
OKGrowin said:
black plastic mulch for raised beds / fields.
5-18-11%20Plastic%20much%20with%20cukes%20MATHIEU.jpg

 
It would be too hard(in my opinion) to cut for containers, so any wood mulch would work i guess.
 
Oh man that looks so painfull. Doesn't plastic heat the ground so much it must be living hell inside there, stems can cook
 
 
millworkman said:
Go for a shredded hardwood rather than bark.
 

You mean sawdust, wood clippings or something similar?
 
Shredded hardwood mulch is just mulch, not sawdust.  I guess wood clippings would be accurate, wood chips.  
 
future_man said:
Why would this be better than bark though?
 
Its hard to get into this topic without getting WAY too deep.  Look up Ramial Chipped Wood(RCW) and/or have a look at Windchicken's grows.  Hardwood mulch builds the soil as it decomposes into a nearly perfect growing medium.  Even if you are just growing in containers, mixing the mulch into your used potting mix at the end of the year and letting it sit till spring will bring you a better medium than you had.  
 
You can get the mulch bagged from any big hardware store or get a load of wood chips from a tree trimming crew for free.
Thanks Jim, you posted just as I was hitting submit.
 
You know, after getting familiar with the RCW concept, and seeing windchicken's Glog, I couldn't think why anyone would grow their garden/peppers any other way, as long as they could source the chips. But, then I realized that not everyone wants their garden to be on a virtual auto-pilot. Some guys just like cover crops, tilling, fertilizing...And, they can produce massive harvests, too. Forum member, Devv, also has one of the most stunning Glogs on THP, using more traditional gardening methods. Having said all that, he will be devoting a portion of his garden area to RCW next season, after having seen windchicken's grow. Maybe Devv wouldn't mind a little less work. I know that if I could source hardwood chips, there would be no looking back.
 
If you can't get pure hard wood chips, but you can get a mixture of different woods, go for it. Wood chips from a lumber mill are NOT what you want. Chips from smaller branches are it. Contact a tree trimmer.

Straw, and compost will suffice.
 
I tried downed pine needles near a tree, but just watch out for any little buggers that like that kind of stuff. I'm using grass clippings and sand at the moment.
 
future_man said:
For pepper plants, should I get tree bark or just sprinkle vermiculite on the top?
 
I need to apply some mulch to my plants the soil is heatinng up like crazy and also loosing water. I hear tree bark is okay since peppers don't mind slightly acidic soil?
 
Since you've already had heat issues, I'd stick with a little light colored topping - the vermiculite would be good.  Don't put it on too thick, since that will retain too much moisture, reducing the evaporative cooling that helps keep the pots from overheating. (Loosing a little water is a good thing if you live in a hot climate.)
 
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