Many gardeners love tomatoes, but not everyone is ready to spend energy on frequent watering. It is especially difficult in the heat, when the sun quickly dries out the beds. But there is a proven method that allows you to water tomatoes once every 10 days, even at high temperatures. The method is suitable for those who do not want to constantly run with a watering can and bend their back.
The main assistant of the lazy summer resident – mulch. It retains moisture in the ground, preventing it from quickly evaporating. Thanks to this, you have to water the plants much less often. And this saves both energy and water.
In addition, after mulching there is no need to loosen the soil. Usually, after watering, a hard crust forms, which prevents air and moisture from penetrating to the roots. Mulch acts as a blanket for the soil, preventing it from hardening.
“And when it’s hot, it protects the roots from overheating. And in cool weather, it protects from frost. This is what we have here, mulch, which is universal. The earth will also thank it – it saturates the earth with useful substances, helps plants grow, and makes the soil so beautiful to look at!” — shares the author of the Zen channel “Your Dacha” (12+).
When and how to lay mulch
The author advises giving young plants time to take root and get stronger so that they stand confidently and do not sway from the wind.
Before laying mulch, the ground needs to be prepared:
- remove all weeds from the garden bed;
- Dilute the soil well with settled water (without bleach);
- Lightly loosen the soil to allow air to enter.
After this, you can lay down the mulch. Any available materials will do: straw, sawdust, hay or mown grass from the garden. You can also use film, but natural materials work better.
The mulch needs to be updated periodically. After the end of the tomato season, it can either be burned or dug up with the ground.
Previously, we reported what to do with tulips after flowering in order to get a beautiful garden in 2027.
