Mulching is one of the simplest and most beneficial practices you can use in your garden. Mulch is simply a protective layer of material that is spread on top of the soil to enrich the soil, prevent weed growth, and help provide a better growing environment for your garden plants and flowers. Mulches can either be organic - such as grass clippings, bark chips, compost, ground corncobs, chopped corn stalks, leaves, manure, newspaper, peanut shells, peat moss, pine needles, sawdust, straw, hay, and wood shavings - or organic - such as stones, brick chips and plastic. Both organic and inorganic mulches have numerous benefits, including:
Organic mulches also have the benefit of improving the condition of the soil. As these mulches slowly decompose, they provide organic matter to help keep the soil loose, This improves root growth, increases the infiltration of water, improves the water-holding capacity of the soil, provides a source of plant nutrients, and establishes an ideal environment for earthworms and other beneficial soil organisms. While inorganic mulches have their place in certain landscapes, they lack the soil-improving properties of organic mulches. Inorganic mulches, because of their permanence, may be difficult to remove if you decide to change your garden plans at a later date. Mulching MaterialsYou can find mulch materials right in your own backyard. They include:
When choosing a mulch material, think of your primary objective. Newspaper and grass clippings are great for weed control, while bark mulch gives a perfect, finishing touch to a front-yard perennial garden. If you’re looking for a cheap solution, consider using materials found in our own yard or see if your community offers chipped wood or compost to its residents. If you want the mulch to stay in place for several years around shrubs, for example, you might want to consider using inorganic mulches. While they will not provide organic matter to the soil, they will be more or less permanent. When to Apply MulchTime of application depends on what you hope to achieve by mulching. Mulches, by providing an insulating barrier between the soil and the air, moderate the soil temperature. This means that a mulched soil in the summer will be cooler than an adjacent, un-mulched soil; while in the winter, the mulched soil may not freeze as deeply. However, since mulch acts as an insulating layer, mulched soils tend to warm up more slowly in the spring and cool down more slowly in the fall than un-mulched soils. If you are using mulches in your vegetable or flower garden, it is best to apply or add additional mulch after the soil has warmed up in the spring. Organic mulches reduce the soil temperature by 8 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer, so if they are applied to cold garden soils, the soil will warm up more slowly and plant maturity will be delayed. Mulches used to help moderate winter temperatures can be applied late in the fall after the ground has frozen, but before the coldest temperatures arrive. Appling mulches before the ground has frozen may attract rodents looking for a warm over-wintering site. Delayed applications of mulch should prevent this problem. Mulches used to protect plants over the winter should be composed of loose material, such as straw, hay, or pine boughs that will help insulate the plants without compacting under the weight of snow and ice. One of the benefits from winter applications of mulch is the reduction in the freezing and thawing of the soil in the late winter and early spring. These repeated cycles of freezing at night and then thawing in the warmth of the sun cause many small or shallow-rooted plants to be heaved out of the soil. This leaves their root systems exposed and results in injury, or death, of the plant. Mulching helps prevent these rapid fluctuations in soil temperature and reduces the chances of heaving. General GuidelinesMulch is measured in cubic feet, so, for example, if you have an area measuring 10 feet by 10 feet, and you wish to apply 3 inches (¼ foot) of mulch, you would need 25 cubic feet to do the job correctly. While some mulch can come from recycled material in your own yard, it can also be purchased bagged or in bulk from a garden center. Buying in bulk may be cheaper if you need a large volume and have a way to haul it. Bagged mulch is often easier to handle, especially for smaller projects, as most bagged mulch come in 3-cubic-foot bags. To start, remove any weeds. Begin mulching by spreading the materials in your garden, being careful not to apply mulch to the plants themselves. Leave an inch or so of space next to the plants to help prevent diseases from flourishing in times of excess humidity. How Much Do I Apply?The amount of mulch to apply to your garden depends on the mulching material used. Spread bark mulch and wood chips 2 to 4 inches deep, keeping it an inch or two away from tree trunks. Scatter chopped and composted leaves 3 to 4 inches deep. If using dry leaves, apply about 6 inches. Grass clippings are spread too thick, tend to compact and rot, becoming quite slimy and smelly. They should be applied 2 to 3 inches deep, and additional layers should be added as clippings decompose. Make sure not to use clippings from lawns treated with herbicides. Sheets of newspaper should only be ¼ inch thick, and covered lightly with grass clippings or other mulch material to anchor them. If other mulch materials are not available, cover the edges of the newspaper with soil. If using compost, apply 3 to 4 inches deep, as it’s an excellent material for enriching the soil. Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission—but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting US! Don’t miss a thing! Sign up to get updates delivered right to your inbox. Blessings,
Margarita & Stace
2 Comments
2021 TEXAS WINTER BLAST Several weeks ago Texans watched as snow and ice blanketed the landscapes in a series of Northern storms and blizzards. We survived the blizzard with no electricity or water. Now power has been restored, water well repaired and the process of repairing damage has begun, it’s time for garden assessment. It is looking a little ugly across south Texas after the freezing storm. Everything has turned brown and dead looking. Agaves, Sago palms and other plants turned to rotting mush. Our rosemary bushes sport black branches. This unprecedented freeze damage has left even seasoned gardeners wondering what will return and what’s gone for good? Is it dead or is it dormant? According to the USDA Hardiness Zone map for South Texas area, our average last frost occurs between March 1 and March 31. It's usually the middle of March. But it hasn’t been a typical winter. The most important thing right now is to wait. If you prune a dormant plant right now and warm weather stimulates growth, the new leaves will be highly susceptible if we have another freeze, and it will then die. If you wait until the danger of frost has passed, you will give your dormant plants a fighting chance. It is the end of March and we decided to trim up the sago palms. One of the smaller sago palms after removing damaged leavesOur large sago palm with baby sago palms growing beside it. Many gardeners enjoy the large Sago palms in their landscapes. Not actually palms, Sagos are cycads. They generally tolerate temperatures down to 15 degrees. Frost-damaged leaves turn yellow or brown and should be removed. If the trunk and leaf crown are hard wood, it should recover. If the trunk turns soft, your sago might be damaged beyond recovery. Our Sago palm last summer. Male Sago Palm and Female Sago Palm Do not eat any part of your sago palm, they contain a toxin called cycasin that can cause liver failure in humans and animals. They are ornamentals only! Sago palms grow slowly when confined to a pot, and it is also a favorite choice for bonsai. Gardeners located north of the USDA Hardiness Zone 8a must grow these ancient wonders in pots and bring them indoors over the winter, but those of us in zones 8a to 11b get to enjoy them in our landscapes year-round. When grown outdoors, Sago palms can reach a height of 10 to 12 feet, although the ones I have seen are closer to about five feet tall. Here they are also typically allowed to fall into a spreading, half-round form, rather than the more upright, palm tree-like form that results when the lower fronds are trimmed off. The leaves are typically about four to five feet long at maturity, reaching their greatest length when grown in partial shade. Shiny, new leaves sprout from the top of the crown in a circular pattern, located above a woody trunk. Sago palms are poisonous to humans and pets, this is something to keep in mind if you have any dogs who likes to experiment with new chew toys. Our dogs have never bothered our Sagos, and the spiky leaf tips act as a deterrent as well. Happy gardening! You can visit our YouTube Channel to see what is happening here at Tailspin Farms. Don’t miss a thing! Sign up to get updates of our Newsletter delivered right to your inbox. Blessings,
Margarita & Stace Christmas cacti are such beautiful plants when they flower, and we often hear that cuttings have been passed down from generation to generation, often still thriving after decades. But are you sure you know which holiday cactus you have? They are often confused. First, Which Cactus Do You Have?Here's a startling revelation: you may have a Thanksgiving cactus instead of a Christmas cactus! Although they look very similar, they're two distinct plants. Unfortunately, the confusion between these holiday succulents is perpetuated by the fact that they're often mislabeled in garden centers. And since they both bloom in late fall or early winter it further adds to the confusion. But it's nice to know which one you truly have. Here's how to tell them apart: Thanksgiving Cactus (Schlumbergera truncata)Leaves: You can tell the Thanksgiving cactus apart from the Christmas cactus by the shape of its leaves. The leaf segments, called "phylloclade's," are serrated or "toothed," with pointy spines; with 2-4 on each side. This is why these succulents are referred to as "Crab Claw Cactus." The end of the last segment is slightly concave with a point on each side. The leaves on the Thanksgiving cactus are "toothed."
Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii)Leaves: The leaves of the Christmas cactus have a more rounded, scalloped edge. The tip of each segment is slightly curved but they can look almost straight across. Flowers: The flowers of the Christmas cactus are usually white or pink and bloom in December. But don't be surprised if you also see blooms between March and May on these plants. I had to do my research on Christmas cactus because, I ordered eight different colors. I had no idea that there is a Thanksgiving cactus as well. Now you have the whole story on Christmas or Thanksgiving cactus. Join us by signing up for our newsletter.
Blessings, Margarita & Stace How to Upcycle Tide Bottles into a DIY Planter for your plants. Reusing product packaging is a great way to help keep plastics out of our landfills. And, with a little inspiration, you can turn those used containers into fun, new household items by upcycling them. I don't know about you but, have you priced pots or planters for planting your plants in. The cost has skyrocketed. I'm just being a tight wode … and refuse to pay that much. So we came up with upcycling our containers. If you are like me you are always growing something. No need to spend money on pots and planters when you can just reuse a detergent bottle, cheese puff ball container or whatever nice size container you have. There are a few different ways you can do this.
I have shared just a few ideas on upcycling bottles. All you have to do is let your imagination run wild. There is so many ideas on the internet about reusing laundry bottles. Here are a few of the sites with some great ideas: Here are a few of the sites with some great ideas on using empty bottles. If you have any new ideas on how you use upcycling bottles please leave it in the comments below. Happy DIY Upcycling bottles! Join us by signing up for our newsletter.
Blessings, Margarita & Stace When we bought our place 12 years ago we didn’t hardly have any grass growing in our yard. The previous owners had planted a few squares of Carpet grass in the backyard. Over the years those four little squares started taking off, especially since I had started watering our Big Oak Tree in the backyard that was looking a little stressed with the heat. After a few weeks of watering Stace asked me if I had noticed the grass in the backyard, I told him that I had noticed that the carpet grass is finally spreading (I grew up calling it carpet grass). Well the real name for it is Saint Augustine. My sweet husband always pulls on my heartstrings, he was so excited about our yard having carpet grass. He said he has never lived where they had carpet grass, when he was growing up. He said “Most Farmers and Ranchers didn’t really have time to think about landscaping, life was about the livestock”. When you look out our back door you see the backyard and you also see the Deer, Horses, and Goats. So when I look up and see him looking out the back door, you would think he is checking on the livestock, but I can tell he is actually looking at the yard. Isn’t that the sweetest thing ever? All this got me to thinking how to care and maintain Saint Augustine grass, so I started checking into it. Saint Augustine grass is a coarse-textured, spreading grass that is popular throughout warmer regions of the Southern United States. It will turn brown with fall freezes and will be slow to green in the spring. It is the least cold tolerant of the warm-season turf grasses. After all the researching, all I can say is WOW! You have to be a scientist to grow this stuff!! Reading everything you’re supposed to do for this grass makes my head hurt! All we have done over the last few years is water and use our compost pile, we just spread it out on the yard and let it do it’s thing. With that said here is the link to Texas A&M site and you can read what they say about how to care for your Saint Augustine (carpet grass) in your yard. Stace’s mom, Claudia was told to contact her local County Ag Extension Office about her yard. She found out they will come out for free and tell you what needs to be done to your yard, Isn’t that great!? Claudia said they came out and told her what was wrong with the yard and was very nice about it. So if you are having a problem with you Carpet Grass Contact your local County Ag Extension Office if you have questions about your yard. Hope this helps you who have this kind of yard. Join us by signing up for our newsletter.
Blessings, Margarita & Stace Growing Lemongrass in your yard.Lemongrass is a tropical herb, hardy only to Zones 8 and warmer. In other regions, grow lemongrass as an annual or in containers that you overwinter indoors. Lemongrass grows quickly and spreads to fill a planting bed or pot. When using too small of a pot, the lemongrass roots will likely break it. We have lemongrass growing in our yard in several flower beds. I think we have had it growing now for about three years. We live in Zone 8 and the lemongrass is thriving. I just love the smell of lemongrass. To me it has a fresh clean smell. What is the flavor of lemongrass?What Does Lemongrass Look and Taste Like? Lemongrass is easy to identify by its pale yellow-green stalks and aromatic citrus scent. It has a resemblance to green onions, with a bulbous bottom but has woody, tough stalks. The flavor of this citrusy herb is a unique blend of tart lemon with the brightness of mint What are benefits of lemongrass?Lemongrass might help prevent the growth of some bacteria and yeast. Lemongrass also contains substances that are thought to relieve pain and swelling, reduce fever, improve levels of sugar and cholesterol in the blood, stimulate the uterus and menstrual flow, and have antioxidant properties. Did you know lemongrass keeps mosquitoes, snakes, and ticks away? Citronella oil, which comes from the lemongrass plant, is commonly used in commercial bug sprays and candles. It features a lemon-like citrusy scent that is irritating to mosquitoes, and deters snakes, but wonderfully pleasant to people. It even keeps ticks from your garden as well. Lemongrass can be planted outside your home as an attractive, yet effective repellent. Lemongrass is drought-resistant and easy to maintain. Well lemongrass come back every year?In moderately cooler zones, lemongrass may survive the winter and return in the spring even though the plant's leaves die back. Lemongrass roots are typically hardy in USDA zones 8b and 9, and in these zones, the plant may return year after year. A clump of lemongrass Transplanting lemongrassJennifer came over last weekend and helped me transplant a bunch of lemongrass. Lemongrass is planted from transplants, either purchased or overwintered, in summer after all danger of frost has passed. In its perennial hardiness zones, lemongrass requires digging, dividing and transplanting every two years or when the clump becomes too large for the site. We dug up the clump of lemongrass and divided it up. When dividing lemongrass plants, be sure they have at least one inch of root attached. ... Dig up the lemongrass plant and, with a shovel or sharp knife, divide the plant into at least 6-inch sections. Plant these divisions 3 feet apart to accommodate the vigorous growth; plants can grow 3-6 feet tall and 3 feet across. Bonnie Plants has a great write up on how to grow lemongrass. I like how they go into detail. Hop over and check it out. We even had enough lemongrass for Jennifer to have some… I still have several more bunches / clumps to dig up and separate. It’s so much fun digging in the dirt… HAPPY GARDENING! Blessings,
Margarita & Stace What are you planting this fall? When we start our Fall Vegetable Garden In South Texas Fall is the ideal time for a vegetable garden in South Texas. Traditionally, September has been the recommended time to start planting most of our cool season crops. Seems like the summer heat drags on longer and longer each year, so you may want to hold off until mid-September if the days are still really hot. This year we are putting up a netting fence around out garden to keep the deer out. We will keep our fingers crossed that it works. Our deer seem to always eat our garden… We are halfway through summer and the hotter the days get the less I want to work outside. While you may not feel like being outside right now, this is a great time to do prepping for your fall vegetable garden. Remember when planning your vegetable garden: select varieties for our area, plant at the right time, prepare your soil, provide adequate moisture and make sure you have plenty of sun. When should I start my fall garden? Fall Garden Planting Schedule 12 to 14 weeks before your first killing frost. 10 to 12 weeks before your first killing frost. 8 to 10 weeks before your first killing frost. 6 to 8 weeks before first killing frost. We order our seeds online, when ordering online check what is suited to our growing zone. Check with your local plant nurseries for a better selection for plants that are right for our area. If you don’t know what planting zone you are in, I have listed some good websites below to help you find the correct zone. We are in zone 8. We have a little longer time for our plants to mature and produce longer. Get your garden area ready for your fall plants. Add any fertilizers, and nutrients needed for your Vegetable plants. Unlike our landscapes, vegetable gardens need to be watered almost daily. A drip irrigation system is recommended for the most efficient application as it will deliver the water directly to the root zone. If you have to water overhead, make sure to do so early in the morning to avoid the plants being wet for prolonged periods of time. With our high humidity excess moisture can quickly create favorable environments for pests and disease. While you may be tempted to plant your garden in the shade of a nice tree, remember that most fruits and vegetables need a minimum of 6 to 8 hours of sunlight. What can I plant now in South Texas? Highly Recommended Crops:
Blessings,
Margarita & Stace |
AuthorI'm Margarita. A Christian, Wife, mother of three, & grandmother "Mimi" of three. I create blog post about our life on the farm. Archives
April 2024
Categories
All
The Goat Management Binder
$15.00
The Goat Management Binder This binder will help you keep your goats health records organized and more. Remembering all the identifications and medical records for each goat is difficult so I quickly learned that I needed to write down our goat herd information. We created all the pages for our goat heard. This system works for us. I think our Goat Management Bind will help you with your recordkeeping. This eBook has 24 pages Print our the pages, fill in your goat information and place in a binder of your choice. When all of your goat information is kept in one place it saves time in case of an emergency. Homemaking / Home Management Binder
$15.00
Digital Homemaking / Home Management Binder I'm excited to share with you my Homemaking / Home Management Binder. This is a beautiful simple binder to write your Weekly task for you home. You can use every day over and over. You will get: Faith based / Proverbs 31 Women Weekly Cleaning Schedule Organizing your home Daily Chores Monthly Plan Meal Planner Grocery List Bill Tracker Savings Tracker Vacation Budget 20 pages 8.5"x11" letter size that matches any printer Unlimited prints (personal use) Instant download and get started PDF Printable Enjoy getting organized with our Homemaking / Home Management Binder ** THIS IS A DIGITAL PRODUCT. ** NO PHYSICAL PRODUCT WILL BE SHIPPED. Your files will be available to download once payment is confirmed. * You may print the files as many times as you like for your own personal use. * Sharing this product is not allowed. ** We do not accept returns, exchanges, or cancellations, but please contact me if you have any problems with your order. Instant Download Your files will be available to download once payment is confirmed. Farm/ Livestock Management Binder
$25.00
Farm / Livestock Management Binder In this binder you can log all your livestock needs and help you stay organized with all records. Such as: *Goats *Chickens *Horses *Medications *Purchases of Livestock *Sold Livestock Our Farm / Livestock Management Binder is 24 pages. Print our the pages, fill in your Livestock information and place in a binder of your choice. When all of your Livestock information is kept in one place it saves time in case of an emergency. Gardening In the South
$20.00
Gardening In the South E-Book Learn about Gardening in South Texas Zone 8 In our e-book we cover Fruit trees, Perennials & Pollinator, Garden checklist, What months to plant. Your files will be available to download once payment is confirmed. I don't accept returns, exchanges, or cancellations. But please contact me if you have any problems with your order. Thank you for shopping with us! Margarita Common Goat Medications
$20.00
Common Goat Medications We give you goat medications that we use for our goats. Included: Common Goat Medications & Easy to Understand Dosages General Information on Injection Wormers Antibiotics Anti-Inflammatories & Hormones' Injectable Vitamins and Minerals Oral Treatments You will get: 13 pages - eBook Unlimited prints (personal use) Instant download and get started PDF Printable ** THIS IS A DIGITAL PRODUCT. ** NO PHYSICAL PRODUCT WILL BE SHIPPED. Your files will be available to download once payment is confirmed. * You may print the files as many times as you like for your own personal use. * Sharing this product is not allowed. ** We do not accept returns, exchanges, or cancellations, but please contact me if you have any problems with your order. Instant Download Your files will be available to download once payment is confirmed. Thank you for shopping with us. Crochet Cup Sleeve Cozy
$6.00
Only a few left! Pretty cup cozy for both hot and iced beverage cups. It will slide up over a standard size non handle travel cups or store-bought coffee cups. They are great at protecting hands from the heat and cold of the travel mug/cup. *100% cotton yarn. * Colors may vary due to stock so message me if you prefer something specific. *Machine washable and dryer safe on low heat. *All Cozy’s make a great gift for literally anyone! *If you don’t see one you love don’t hesitate to message me! I love creating new products. Thank you for visiting our store. Handmade Goat Milk & Honey Soap
$7.00
Handmade Goat Milk & Honey Soap 4 oz. bar. Benefits from goat milk & honey - it's moisturizing, clarifying, and naturally antibacterial. Goat milk & Honey Soap has always been a favorite, it smells divine, and there are loads of skin benefits. Goat milk & Honey Soap hydrates and nourishes dry skin. It doesn't leave your skin feeling dry. Ingredients: Sorbitol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Lauretha Sulfate, Stearic Acid, Lauric Acid, Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Goat Milk, Honey Titanium Dioxide. Due to the handmade nature of our soaps and fragrance oil added, all bars vary in color. |
Handcrafted items made with love.
Farm / Homesteading eBooks Faith eBooks Notary Public Service Goats when available |
New items coming soon.
|
Tailspin Farms
2273 FM 1681 Stockdale, Texas 78160 |
210-771-7205
Email - mcgoats@tspinfarms.com |