There's no question that most of us love autumn for its colourful leaves. Personally, I also love the smell of autumnal woodland. In fact, going further, I also love the freshness of the nutrient-rich soil that has formed under the leaves.
On the other hand, I am saddened to see that even today, I often see plastic bags of collected rubbish lying in front of houses, waiting for the garbage truck.
When I was a child, I remember my grandparents' house with the sign "Clean yard, tidy house" on the wall - and that they collected the waste too. Sadly, this is the attitude that many of us have been conditioned to adopt, when nature and our gardens offer a wiser solution: leaving the waste in situ has many benefits, especially for soil health.
Natural mulch
Foliage on the soil surface protects the roots from cold and frost, reduces soil drying, reduces wind erosion and compaction from rainfall, and absorbs water locally.
Provides living and hiding space and a source of nutrients for soil micro- and macrofauna
Over time, a whole small ecosystem can develop in and under the soil:
- Bacteria - quickly break down readily available organic matter, such as sugars and proteins, to provide nutrients to the soil.
- Fungi - they break down heavier components such as cellulose and lignin more slowly, resulting in humus in the longer term.
- Nematodes - they regulate the population of micro-organisms by feeding on them, helping to recycle nutrients. And predatory nematodes naturally reduce the number of pests.
- Earthworms and other soil-dwelling arthropods physically shred and rotate the soil, increasing microbial activity and organic matter content.
- It also provides a winter shelter for frogs, newts, lizards, gliders and hedgehogs, which are useful for our gardens.
Nutrient replenishment naturally
The activity of the tiny organisms in the soil and in the mulch causes the mulch to decompose, making valuable nutrients (such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, etc.) available to our plants to help them grow healthily.
If we move from the old-fashioned "Clean yard, tidy house" values to a "Nature-friendly home" approach, it's easier to see the beauty in the clusters of different coloured leaves that contribute to a healthier, more vibrant garden.
Many people may think that by keeping the mulch in place, the breeding grounds for harmful fungal diseases are maintained, but over time, if the natural ecosystem is allowed to function properly, bacteria and fungi that can keep them in check can proliferate. In the meantime, we can also use the Tricho Immunt, whose Trichoderma fungal strains provide our plants with the necessary protection from pathogenic fungi.
If you prefer to ripen the avar into useful nutrients in the composter rather than on site, the ripening process can be Ino Bact N-Cell with beneficial bacteria in our products.
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