(double post originally placed in "Outdoor" general)
So here is my situation.
Scandinavia, Suomaa ( Suomi/Finland= Swampland)
While strolling down marshes, meadows and badly draining clearcuts, I use to look out for naturally apearing elevations of reasonable circumference to call my "spot".
Peat hills like naturally occuring, tipped over, mega old and decayed tree trunks are my favorite.
These are possible to dig out and refill with my own home brought, thoroughly composted wormcastings/compost.
Depending on time of year and the nature of summer, our water tables in these areas will be inbetween " flooded" and half a meter underneath the surface of the main marsh.
( eg. not counting the elevated distance to the top of my peat heaps )
So in order to provide air and drain, I use to look out for elevations to dig out and refill that are preferebly 50 to 80 cm above the ground water line.
Been doing this for several years like this now, and am pondering will I get any benefit if I would first line the hole in the heap with plastic while leaving the bottom open to retain capilair action of the groundwater.
A bit like the so called "swamp tubes" idea.
If this works better I would first of all like to know WHY this works better?
Sure I can think for myself... exept for the drinking ones down under, most root endings will be inside the home brought compost enclosure so no precious nutrients will go to waste.
And ofcourse... Water poured on will retain better since it can't evaporise along the surface of the heap. Hm hmm M'kay, but maybe I might also forsee trouble comming up that way ...
The way it works for me now is that in times of exessive rain, at least the outer roots are still beeing able to take up oxigine along the surface of the heap, but I'd be affraid that when I would line the hole with plastic on the sides, roots will become trapped between groundwater and downpoor wich may be too wet a combination for them to remain healthy.
So here is my question to fellow profi outdoor gardeners...
Considering my situation... Should I line my holes with plastic or not ?
(Some first hand profi experience could safe me from having to trial and error it out on my own.)
Right now my "heaps" tend to act a bit like "smart pots" ( the ones having a synthetic, fabric like, semi permeable wall through wich roots will protrude) But of wich I have no clue why they seem to work so well. Maybe someone could give an airtight explanation about the principle behind why these pots work so good as well?
Oh, the Peat heaps themselves do not contain much nutrients and ofcourse do I rub in the walls of the hole with lime to raise up the ph before adding the compost.
In fact the nature of this peat is so airy and overly draining that without amendmends the plants would not thrive too well.
Thanks in advice for those willing to share their experience on this.
Ps. I am only interested in fabricating theory's based on practical experience, not the other way around.
So here is my situation.
Scandinavia, Suomaa ( Suomi/Finland= Swampland)
While strolling down marshes, meadows and badly draining clearcuts, I use to look out for naturally apearing elevations of reasonable circumference to call my "spot".
Peat hills like naturally occuring, tipped over, mega old and decayed tree trunks are my favorite.
These are possible to dig out and refill with my own home brought, thoroughly composted wormcastings/compost.
Depending on time of year and the nature of summer, our water tables in these areas will be inbetween " flooded" and half a meter underneath the surface of the main marsh.
( eg. not counting the elevated distance to the top of my peat heaps )
So in order to provide air and drain, I use to look out for elevations to dig out and refill that are preferebly 50 to 80 cm above the ground water line.
Been doing this for several years like this now, and am pondering will I get any benefit if I would first line the hole in the heap with plastic while leaving the bottom open to retain capilair action of the groundwater.
A bit like the so called "swamp tubes" idea.
If this works better I would first of all like to know WHY this works better?
Sure I can think for myself... exept for the drinking ones down under, most root endings will be inside the home brought compost enclosure so no precious nutrients will go to waste.
And ofcourse... Water poured on will retain better since it can't evaporise along the surface of the heap. Hm hmm M'kay, but maybe I might also forsee trouble comming up that way ...
The way it works for me now is that in times of exessive rain, at least the outer roots are still beeing able to take up oxigine along the surface of the heap, but I'd be affraid that when I would line the hole with plastic on the sides, roots will become trapped between groundwater and downpoor wich may be too wet a combination for them to remain healthy.
So here is my question to fellow profi outdoor gardeners...
Considering my situation... Should I line my holes with plastic or not ?
(Some first hand profi experience could safe me from having to trial and error it out on my own.)
Right now my "heaps" tend to act a bit like "smart pots" ( the ones having a synthetic, fabric like, semi permeable wall through wich roots will protrude) But of wich I have no clue why they seem to work so well. Maybe someone could give an airtight explanation about the principle behind why these pots work so good as well?
Oh, the Peat heaps themselves do not contain much nutrients and ofcourse do I rub in the walls of the hole with lime to raise up the ph before adding the compost.
In fact the nature of this peat is so airy and overly draining that without amendmends the plants would not thrive too well.
Thanks in advice for those willing to share their experience on this.
Ps. I am only interested in fabricating theory's based on practical experience, not the other way around.
