Make every drop count! Mulch offers a solution to conserving water after recent rainfall
Mulch is beneficial for retaining moisture in the soil by:
- Reduces evaporation: Mulch forms a protective layer on the soil surface, acting as a barrier that reduces the evaporation of moisture from the soil. By blocking direct exposure to sunlight and wind, mulch helps to maintain a more stable soil moisture level, preventing rapid drying of the soil.
- Insulates the soil: Mulch acts as an insulating layer, providing a buffer between the soil and the external environment. It helps regulate soil temperature by keeping the soil cooler during hot weather and warmer during colder periods. By reducing temperature extremes, mulch minimizes water loss through evaporation.
- Suppresses weed growth: Mulch acts as a natural weed suppressant by preventing weed seeds from receiving adequate light to germinate. Weeds compete with plants for moisture, so by suppressing weed growth, mulch helps to conserve water for desired plants, reducing the overall water requirements.
- Improves soil structure: Over time, organic mulches break down and decompose, contributing organic matter to the soil. This organic matter improves soil structure by enhancing its ability to hold moisture. It increases the soil’s water-holding capacity, allowing it to retain more water and making it available to plant roots.
- Prevents soil erosion: Mulch helps to prevent soil erosion by reducing the impact of heavy rain or strong winds on the soil surface. It acts as a protective layer that slows down the movement of water, allowing it to infiltrate the soil more effectively. By reducing soil erosion, mulch helps to maintain moisture in the soil and prevents the loss of valuable topsoil.
- Promotes beneficial soil microorganisms: Mulch creates a favorable environment for beneficial soil microorganisms. These microorganisms help break down organic matter and improve nutrient cycling in the soil. They contribute to the overall health of the soil ecosystem, which in turn supports healthier plant growth and moisture retention.
Overall, mulch plays a crucial role in retaining moisture in the soil by reducing evaporation, insulating the soil, suppressing weed growth, improving soil structure, preventing erosion, and promoting beneficial soil microorganisms. It is a valuable tool for conserving water and maintaining optimal soil moisture levels for plant growth.
To order our soil improving mulch from £50 per 730L bag please click here
About Apsley Farms
Sustainability and efficiency is at the heart of everything we do at Apsley Farms. We’ve adopted cutting edge technologies and turned low value crops into renewable energy. We focus on a circular economy by returning the nutrients in our digestate products back to the land as a fertiliser.
Our process of generating green gas and other important by-products ticks three important boxes: it displaces natural gas (fossil fuel) in the gas grid to heat people’s homes; it displaces CO2 made by the fertiliser industry, which is essential in the food industry; and it simultaneously generates natural fertiliser in the process!
