It's so dry here in northern Wyoming and sometimes windy that I'm finding my soil is often dry even with almost daily watering!
Mel's Mix just doesn't hold the moisture like our weedy clay soil.
I read on a gardening friend's blog that she puts peat moss on top of her soil as a mulch to keep in the moisture... so that's what I did last night!
I have had the same problem. I will have to try the peat moss and see how that works. Your garden is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteHi wydawake! I sure hope that it helps! Let us know how it works for you. Thank you for your kind words! I've been so enjoying my SFG!
ReplyDeleteI've also found that mulching with straw is pretty effective. I few wheat seeds sprout in the straw but it's not a lot and they pluck right out.
ReplyDeleteWindy weather just sucks the moisture right out -- of the leaves as well as the soil. I hope it works. Keep us posted! (Oh, I have to get outside with a hose after tucking the chilluns into bed!)
ReplyDeleteOne disadvantage of peat as a mulch is that if allowed to get dried out it will do two things:
ReplyDelete1) not receive the water when you irrigate (just runs off until it finally "takes" the water and becomes saturated); and
2) will blow away in a stiff breeze.
If you keep the peat totally soaked all the time - it works as a mulch. Not to be a downer or anything - just been there and done that using it to mulch a newly seeded lawn years ago.
Hi KitsapFG,
ReplyDeleteGood points. Thanks for letting me know!
Hi, Toni:
ReplyDeleteI read "peat moss on top of soil" and I said to myself, "Ooooh noooo." I hope it works for you, but when it dries out, it's really hard to re-wet.
As bad as it looks, a few layers of newspaper with maybe some compost or even soil on top of it will mulch pretty good and "feed the soil" as the paper decomposes. Grass clippings would work too, just don't put them too deep or directly against the stems.
Ditto the not to be a downer.
Oh shoot Cheryl...
ReplyDeleteI'd better mix it with compost...
Sure appreciate your honest feedback. KitsapFG said the same thing.
But... that is why this is my gardening adventure!!! Live and Learn. I'm so blessed to have gardening friends like you to keep me on the right path!!! Thanks!