Resource Book on Horticulture Nursery Management

D. Mulching in Nursery
Mulching is practice of covering soil surface with organic or inorganic materials to
check the growth of weeds and loss of water through evaporation and regulate soil and
media temperature.
Mulching for Protection of Small Seeds Mulching to Protect Delicate Fruits
Advantages of Mulching
1. Seeds in the beds are irrigated frequently and can be washed away easily. Thus,
placing of some mulch material prevents the blowing away of the seeds from the
nursery bed.
2. Mulch also saves the seeds from being picked away by the birds and other stray
animals, rodents, etc.
3. Covering of the nursery beds by any mulching material is equally useful to prevent
the young seedlings from frost damage during winters and scorching sun during
summers.
4. Mulching material also suppresses the growth of unwanted plants and weeds and also
conserves moisture in the soil. It cools soil surface and stabilize soil temperature.
5. It adds organic matter to soil, if mulch materials are organic in nature and reduces soil
erosion on sloppy lands.
Mulching Material
(a) Organic Mulches
Animal Manures, composts, composted municipal sludge, hulls, cobs, shells,
sphagnum peat moss, pine needles, straw, wood products, shredded chip, or chunk bark,
wood chips or shavings, waste wood, etc.
(b) Inorganic Mulches
Aluminum foil, black polyethylene, landscape fabrics, recycled rubber tires,
stone, chips, pebbles and gravels.
<strong>Resource</strong> <strong>Book</strong> on Horticulture Nursery Management : 101