Most if not all trees will appreciate mulch but other trees will do better with an insane amount of it. Its likely fine if its only a few inches but partially or fully composted Woodchester are likely better. Think in terms of how much mulch there is in a forest and how trees and leaves fall and only cover part of the living trees roots
There are different philosophies for orchard management. You should try a few different experiments and see which ones work for you trees, soil and your context. Only through experimentation will you land on a management approach that works for your situation.
Are you able to address in your lessons things that could mitigate fire damage when bush fires come through. I am in Australia, and we are perrenial in nature everywhere, but the wood chip and mulches were apparently a problem when things really dry out and fires burn harder in these situations. Its a catch 22 situation. Thank you! And good luck with your efforts!
I am not a fire expert and I don't have a good grasp of the Australian context you are in, however if you visit Geoff Lawton's farm his place is very well protected from fire with the water harvesting earthworks that he has built on his property. These earthworks have allowed him to choose fire resistant species that keep his risk low. My recommendation is to find time to go visit Zaytuna farm on a tour.
I don't understand how woodchips which are on the surface, help fungi get to the deep roots of a prerenal plant. You would need woody material under the surface of the soil.
Whenever we mulch the surface the fungi will reach up toward the soil mulch interface and plug their "roots" into the mulch. You don't need to incorporate the mulch into the soil for this benefit. Give it a try and report back in a year or two.
Might you not quite understand ectomycorrhizal and saprophytic fungi and what they are doing in a soil? Exactly how does one " encourage ectomycorrhizal fungi" using wood chips? As an ectomycorrhizal and saprophytic fungi research and development officer at a biotech company that just funded/graduated two MSc students from one of North America's top labs on this subject, I'm lost.
Fungi is destroying my sweet potatos. 😓
Of course that’s the bad kind of fungi that causes sickness in the soil. 🥵
So your saying mulch your orchard? I mulched and then heard not to mulch it. I’m so confused😭
Most if not all trees will appreciate mulch but other trees will do better with an insane amount of it. Its likely fine if its only a few inches but partially or fully composted Woodchester are likely better. Think in terms of how much mulch there is in a forest and how trees and leaves fall and only cover part of the living trees roots
There are different philosophies for orchard management. You should try a few different experiments and see which ones work for you trees, soil and your context. Only through experimentation will you land on a management approach that works for your situation.
Are you able to address in your lessons things that could mitigate fire damage when bush fires come through.
I am in Australia, and we are perrenial in nature everywhere, but the wood chip and mulches were apparently a problem when things really dry out and fires burn harder in these situations. Its a catch 22 situation.
Thank you! And good luck with your efforts!
I am not a fire expert and I don't have a good grasp of the Australian context you are in, however if you visit Geoff Lawton's farm his place is very well protected from fire with the water harvesting earthworks that he has built on his property. These earthworks have allowed him to choose fire resistant species that keep his risk low. My recommendation is to find time to go visit Zaytuna farm on a tour.
I don't understand how woodchips which are on the surface, help fungi get to the deep roots of a prerenal plant. You would need woody material under the surface of the soil.
Whenever we mulch the surface the fungi will reach up toward the soil mulch interface and plug their "roots" into the mulch. You don't need to incorporate the mulch into the soil for this benefit. Give it a try and report back in a year or two.
Exactly
Good info
Might you not quite understand ectomycorrhizal and saprophytic fungi and what they are doing in a soil? Exactly how does one " encourage ectomycorrhizal fungi" using wood chips? As an ectomycorrhizal and saprophytic fungi research and development officer at a biotech company that just funded/graduated two MSc students from one of North America's top labs on this subject, I'm lost.
The type of mulch is so important ramial mulch