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Working to create diversity, connection, relationship, and
resilience in our landscapes and our communities
Resilient Roots

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Sheet Mulching
Sheet mulching is probably the best way to build organic matter and microorganisms in the soil. By composting in place you are allowing all the by-products of composting to actually be utilized by the plants you are trying to benefit. Every time you turn a compost pile or dig your compost to bring it to the garden you are killing millions of organisms simply by exposing them to air and sunshine. Also, there are colonies of fungi and bacteria that are busily creating a network of communication and chemistry all beneficial to our plants. So composting in place is preferred, also called sheet composting or sheet mulching.
There as many different techniques for sheet mulching. Some basic concepts should be kept in mind such as: just like building a compost pile you want about 2/3 “browns” or carbon sources to 1/3 “greens” or nitrogen sources (manure being a nitrogen source though not green color). Be sure to water all the layers well.
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Sheet mulching can be as easy as placing layers of cardboard down followed by wood chips on top or as extravagant as a 16 layer cake.
Below is a list of some good materials for sheet mulching.
"greens" or nitrogen-rich materials:
grass clippings
compost
manure
fresh weeds
waste produce
blood meal
seaweed
And "browns" that are carbon-rich materials use:
cardboard
newspaper
straw
dried leaves
wood shavings or chips
bark
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You want to alternate the greens and the browns and also layer in some compost to introduce micro and macro-organisms into the pile.
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Finish your sheet mulching project up with some wood chips to encourage fungal microorganisms, increasing diversity and resilience.
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Watch the slides below to see the process.
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Click on the picture below and start the slide
show which depicts a sheet mulching project

Take some time to understand how big your plants are going to get and set them in place in their pots to visualize the arrangement. Create a map so you can recreate this arrangement once your sheet mulching is complete.

You can create a line to be the edge of the bed with a hose. If your soil is compacted open up the soil and loosen it slightly with a garden fork or spade over the entire area. Sprinkle some compost over the ground or sod for your first layer. It's best if this is homemade compost and has some worms in it.

Place your plant in the hole and fill the soil back around the roots. Replace the layers back around the root ball.

Take some time to understand how big your plants are going to get and set them in place in their pots to visualize the arrangement. Create a map so you can recreate this arrangement once your sheet mulching is complete.
email: resilientrootscapecod@gmail.com phone: (508)-375-7937