Have Your Garden Work for You! Using Desert Mistletoe as Mulch
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 พ.ค. 2024
- If we can recognize these opportunities within the landscape, we can save money, increase fertility and succession of land, as well as help a mesquite that is being choked by a sucker plant.
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#desertgardening #desertpermaculture #deserthomestead #naturalfarming #greeningthedesert #permaculture #desertmistletoe #mulching
That is one really cool cactus clump growing high in that mesquite!
I absolutely love your "natural farming" techniques. You are one of the few gardening channels I watch that make it a point to use naturally growing inputs to further overall garden growth. Well done sir.
I am a natural farmer! Using what Yah provides only makes sense. O always appreciate your kind words my friend.
Too cool!
I have also used Desert Mistletoe for years with success. They have quite a number of uses. The berries are also edible. Great info Josh!
I don't buy mulch but did not think of adding as that, thank you for all of your tips! Its appreciated
Good stuff. I'll be honest, I am not surprised at all by the result, but I am still happy to hear that you can see and experience a positive result for yourself. Fluffy mulch keeps the worst heat away from the soil, and also from the micro organisms that provide nutrients for your plants and trees, and it does all the other things that I mentioned before. Compacted mulch doesn't do that anymore, or not as good as fluffy mulch. In a desert climate that makes a big difference. In my climate I can get away with it. And the beneficial micro organisms that we gardeners like so much also like to have enough air.
The past days I have been mulching myself as well. Some areas could use a little more fluffy mulch, and I also see the positive results. The little flower seedlings that are located at that spot started to green up more and also grow faster in less then a week after applying the mulch. And I see tons of woodlice walking around. And woodlice are very beneficial for the garden. Besides providing nutrients for the micro organisms they also help to keep pest insect and ant populations under control by eating their eggs, and they help to break down dead bio mass. The larger chunks that bacteria can't eat yet.
Keep on mulching my friend, but keep the stem of the tree free from mulch. The roots from the tree like a bit of moisture, but anything else from the tree that grows above the ground likes to stay dry and aerated. The base from the tree where the stem meets the soil needs to be able to breath, if you will. 👍
Plants and trees and the most beneficial micro organisms prefer a certain temperature, and also a certain positive temperature difference between the day and night. Which means that they like to be warmer during the day and cooler during the night. The closer that you can bring the soil temperature to 75F during the day and about 65F during the night, the better that your plants will grow. They will grow thicker, faster, longer and healthier compared to plants that have to deal with more heat, and more heat difference between the day and night temperatures. Fluffy mulch helps to manage those soil temperatures, and to keep the temperature differences between night and day within, or at least closer to, the preferred limits. Which is beneficial for the micro organisms, and in turn good for the plants and trees. The more that your soil temperatures deviate from those ideal temperatures, the harder it will be for the plants and the trees.
I could not help to be inspired by your most recent tree recommendation video. But I also thought about this video where you said that getting enough bio mass for mulch can be challenging in the desert. Here is a tree that is also very multi functional, and it grows in hardiness zones 4-9 USDA. It can provide you with very healthy nuts, lots of shade, lots of mulch, lots of wind protection, and so forth. I am talking about the hazelnut tree.
Hazelnut trees find their roots in various corners of the world. They flourish in North America, Europe, and Asia, adorning landscapes with lush foliage and bountiful nuts. Historically, hazelnuts have held significant cultural importance. In ancient Celtic traditions, these nuts symbolized wisdom and inspiration, while Greek mythology often linked them to divine knowledge. Native Americans revered hazelnuts for their nutritional value, incorporating them into their diets and medicinal practices. These cultural echoes continue to resonate today, making hazelnut trees not just botanical wonders but also carriers of cultural heritage.
Apart from their cultural significance, hazelnut trees offer a plethora of practical uses. The nuts harvested from these trees serve as culinary delights, enriching dishes with their nutty flavor. From decadent desserts like chocolate hazelnut spread to wholesome salads adorned with roasted hazelnuts, these versatile nuts add a delightful crunch to various recipes. Moreover, hazelnuts are rich in protein, healthy fats, and essential nutrients, making them a valuable addition to a balanced diet. They not only tantalize the taste buds but also nourish the body, making them a favorite among health-conscious individuals.
My personal experience is that the fast growing branches can also be used to weave natural fences because new tree shoots like to grow straight and tall, which makes them very suitable for weaving natural fences and wind breakers. And the tree can handle the abuse of pruning perfectly fine. And the leaves are very soft and very suitable as mulch or compost material. 👍
I have grown hazelnuts from seed in the past, but they were sold within the nursery before I had a chance to plant them. If memory serves correctly, they need cross pollination, so have 2 or 3 in the landscape is preferred. I do grow an All n One Almond, which is self Fertile, but it is not fast growing.
I do have multiple trees I've planted that I will eventually use primarily as chop n drop or mulch. The primary is the Royal Empress, which have huge leaves and is deciduous. I have also planted Leucanea, which Geoff Lawton uses as a pioneer species. Besides those, I have about 40-60 bamboo growing on my fence line outlining my 2 acres and are very messy, which I love!
Thank you for thinking of me and making the recommendation! Your are spot on.
Is there no worries of it infecting other trees?
Ive been doing this for years with great success. I've never had mistletoe grow in any trees but mesquite. Mistletoe doesn't even grow in Palo Verdes.
It's perfectly safe to throw on the ground, even with the berries, as it's a native species.
I just googled which trees can host desert mistltoe, and it does say Palo Verdes can, but I've never seen it. It looks like the host trees are all native trees. Remember too, the birds Feely spread it, so it doesn't matter which native trees you have, they could get mistletoe. I don't see anything about it affecting other non natives.
@@DesertGardensHomestead that's great to know. Thanks for sharing.