Mulch. Just do it.

[Bennyweed1]

Where in the hell do you buy micro clover? It seems like a hot commodity, not even an online source. I found other species of clover but just not micro clover. Is there a better clover to use or do they all do the same N fixation? Is clover a perennial?

 

[CC_2U]

Help

 

[special hookah]

I agree with Benny. I've searched and only found mixtures of 2-3% micro clover mixed with grass seed. After reading through this thread, I am planning on taking a few patches of clover from the backyard and trying to transplant them to the grow medium. Has anyone tried this as a free alternative?

 

[CC_2U]

SH

I couldn't find the micro version and chased several rabbits down their holes trying to source the seeds. I finally settled for 'regular' White Dutch Clover seeds.

CC

 

[vonforne]

ooo stickied. about time...

ML has been doing good work lately.......lately.

I believe that it is stickie worthy so it is.

Keep up the good work ML.

V

 

[mad librettist]

thanks Von, and others!

 

[h.h.]

Okay... as long as everybody else is kissing ass, I'll throw in my thanks as well.
I appreciate the answered questions and the innovative thinking.

 

[mad librettist]

thanks, I am blushing now!


You don't need micro clover, listen to CC! to be honest, some of it is micro, but look at the pics and it can look an awful lot like regular dutch white clover when there is no competition.


some clovers are perennial, some annual, and some are bi-annual. Some can handle dry conditions, some can't. Some even make edible roots.


and let's not forget, there are other options for ground cover! if we are trying hard enough, we will find things that don't work

 

[beta]

.

 

[mad librettist]

Is there a consensus yet on the best plant to use as a living mulch and the best place to acquire it? I've been searching everywhere for micro-clover, no luck yet...

no consensus whatsoever. we need to see some more attempts in different gardens to see if this is something that can help everyone or just certain cases. If you replicate what I did, it should work, but that is boring!

Dutch white clover works (that's all micro clover is, just more small individuals).

I'm testing purslane, yarrow, chamomile,

 

[beta]

.

 

[mad librettist]

Is it important that the mulch plant is shallow rooting? What other considerations should I be aware of?

Thanks!

I actually look deep rooted plants. The clover and cannabis roots in my pots are all meshed together, and they don't bother each other.

Whether two plants can get along is a very complex topic. Many if not all plants can recognize plants nearby based on the way light is reflected. Especially when two species are not related, there can actually be an underground war. This is something the plants do actively - sending out roots to strangle the other, removing nutrients, and other dirty tricks.

PLants are not passive.

In the illustration below, from Coccanouer's book, we see pigweed acting as a "mother weed" for the potato. Without the pigweed, the potato is more vulnerable to pests, drought, etc...

 

[beta]

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[Bennyweed1]

Im going to take a walk into the wild. I have a nice fresh water river that runs with in driving distance. There is lush ground coverings along the river and many different species. Im going to dig up a few kinds and bring them home to see what I come up with.

Also, this morning as I was leavig for work, I looked down at the grass and saw tons of clover patches. It is mixed with grass but over all majority was clover. I want to get my hands on some of it. Funny thing is I live in a city so I will look strange on the side walk digging up the turf. lol.

 

[jaykush]

Is there a consensus yet on the best plant to use as a living mulch

a diverse mulch is best, specially outdoors in the ground where deep tap rooted plants can shine there full benefits.

 

[heady blunts]

maybe after the clover dies back as the plants get bigger, you could throw a layer of leaf mulch on there, then some big pieces of moss...

 

[mad librettist]

maybe after the clover dies back as the plants get bigger, you could throw a layer of leaf mulch on there, then some big pieces of moss...

i've done everything but the moss...

letting a dead mulch replace the living mulch works well.

 

[heady blunts]

benny's comment reminded me i used to collect moss and make really cool living terrariums. forest moss is really beautiful stuff. i figured it prefers a fungal environment which is why the leaf mould came to mind. and it has very low light requirements.

 

[CC_2U]

maybe after the clover dies back as the plants get bigger, you could throw a layer of leaf mulch on there, then some big pieces of moss...

heady blunts

One blog that I scanned the other day looking around under the terms "living mulch" described how (s)he handled the different seasons using clovers and such as living mulch, cover corps, etc..

They planted White Dutch Clover during the spring and remains in place through the summer and into early fall. Once the crops have been harvested and removed for composting the clover was turned over in the beds. After a week or so the beds are seeded with a cover crop mix (mustard, fescue, red clover, alfalfa and on and on - about 12 total).

This is then allowed to overwinter which will accomplish a number of things that are beneficial to the soil. In the spring a couple of weeks before you plan to start preparing the beds, you want to turn this crop over and allow it to decompose.

After you get you beds up and running then broadcast with the original white clover.

The photos at this blog showed that they knew what was going on about soil building - beautiful vegetables and fruits.

HTH

CC

 

[jaykush]

im betting the clover comes back after he harvests. it doesn't give up that easy.