Content
Growing tomatoes is impossible without the use of basic agrotechnical techniques. In order for the crop to bear juicy fruits, experts advise mulching tomatoes with sawdust.
The benefits of sawdust mulch for tomatoes
Mulch is a necessary protection for all varieties of tomatoes, so do not neglect this procedure
Straw, peat, dry leaves, sawdust, etc. can be used as mulching material. The last method is the most effective for the following reasons:
- Prevalence. You don't have to go to the store to find sawdust. Useful material lies idle in every yard. You can collect it in any quantity and, most importantly, you don’t have to pay for it.
- Soil cooling. Hot summers are typical for many regions of Russia. Since tomatoes grow close to the ground, they are quite sensitive to high temperatures. Sawdust prevents the soil from warming up in the sun, providing coolness to the stem and roots.
- Protection from rot. Unlike other types of mulch, sawdust does not rot and does not create preconditions for pests.
- Moisture retention. After watering, the wood will retain moisture inside for a long time.Mulch will make it easier for tomatoes to withstand drought. And it’s good for the owner - he won’t have to constantly water the crop.
- Fertilizing the soil. Bacteria love to live in wood because it is a warm place with constant access to moisture. In them, microorganisms will multiply and form colonies. Bacterial secretions will penetrate the soil and fertilize it.
- Neatness. This mulch is quite neat and looks good from the outside. After a year, it can be replaced with a new one, and the old one can be used for fertilizer.
- Weed protection. It is difficult for other plants to find their way through heavy wood.
- Maintaining moisture in a greenhouse. When growing tomatoes in a greenhouse, it is important to maintain a certain level of moisture. If you stop controlling the process, excess water will cause the formation of fungal diseases. Sawdust holds back vapors, so mulch is a kind of protection.
The material can be used for other purposes. For example, adding water, sawdust and urea to the soil can improve air circulation. Contact with oxygen will be beneficial for tomato roots.
Is it possible to mulch tomatoes with sawdust?
Sawdust has long been used as mulch. Moreover, you can mulch not only tomatoes, but also other crops. It is an organic material and will decompose over time, fertilizing the soil. For long-term use, it is worth stocking up on several buckets.
Mulching with sawdust is suitable for tomatoes in a greenhouse or open ground
Old wood can be easily turned into compost. For this you will need:
- 1 kg of sawdust;
- 1.5 kg of potassium sulfate;
- 2.5 kg of urea;
- 0.75 kg double superphosphate.
Each substance is added separately, stirring the resulting substance. Mineral fertilizers can be used in combination with the additive.It is better to apply them in liquid form.
During rains it is covered with an impenetrable cap. Fertilizer can take effect over different periods of time - usually it takes no more than six months.
What sawdust is suitable
What sawdust is best to add to tomatoes - the choice of material has a great influence on the quality of the mulch layer. Therefore, this point should be examined more carefully.
Fresh or rotten
Good results can be achieved using rotted sawdust. With them, the soil becomes looser and more acidic. If the area is already acidified, already rotten materials are used.
Coniferous or deciduous
Deciduous trees practically do not change the composition of the soil. Conifers contain a large number of different microelements. However, due to the high concentration of resinous substances, they should not be abused.
Rules for mulching tomatoes with sawdust
Before starting work, you need to know the acidity of the soil. Tomatoes prefer slightly acidic or alkaline soils. If pH = 6, it is not recommended to use rotten wood, otherwise the situation may worsen.
To find out acidity, gardeners use portable meters. They can be found in garden stores or marketplaces. This is the fastest and easiest method. In addition, the device will be useful in the future to regulate the condition of the soil.
The quality of the mulch must be monitored first of all, since the speed of plant development will depend on this
There are several simple rules on how to improve tomato yields. If you do not take into account the peculiarities of agricultural technology, the fruits will be small and not as juicy as you would like.
Basic rules for mulching:
- Mulch is used in late spring, when the snow has already melted and the earth has warmed up.
- The soil must be cleared of weeds to prevent other shoots from taking away nutrients.
- The soil is loosened in advance and the beds are watered.
- To reduce acidity, slaked lime is added to the area - sold in garden stores.
- Before laying, sawdust is impregnated with compounds based on nitrogenous elements (for example, urea).
- Small sawdust is used for tomatoes; large material can be used to mulch tree seedlings.
- Form an even layer of mulch, do not put too much sawdust - no more than 10 cm.
- To improve fertility, mulch is added to the compost composition in a concentration of 1:1.
Fresh wood should only be used if there is no other alternative. The material negatively affects the composition of the soil.
Conclusion
Mulching tomatoes with sawdust is not difficult. To do this, just arm yourself with a bucket and go in search of suitable wood. This is an effective method that can improve crop yield. However, it is important to follow the rules here.
