Mulches Aid in Regenerating California and Oregon Forests

📖 The Scoop

The use of mulches as a reforestation tool in Oregon and California began primarily in the late 1950's. Many types of mulches were tried including sheets of plastic, newspaper, and plywood; various thicknesses of bark, sawdust, sand, and straw; sprayed-on petroleum resin; and even large plastic buckets. Most proved to be ineffective, costly or both. Early trials tended to use small, short-lived materials that aided conifer seedling survival, but not growth. Compared to other weed-control techniques available at the time, mulches were rather expensive. Current trends are to apply longer-lived, somewhat larger mulches of mostly sheet materials made of reinforced paper, polyester, or polypropylene. When the various costs of mulching (material, installation, and maintenance) are totalled, the overall cost of the technique continues to be high. Recently, new mulch materials of polyester, polypropylene, or combinations of both have allowed silviculturists to consider large, durable mulches (10 by 10 feet or 3 by 3 m) for enhancement of growth (not just survival), and to control plants with stiffer stems.

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