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Make Cedar Trees Into Mulch!
Why mulch? Watch
the Garden Channel for a little while and they will explain
why mulch is good.
Water retention
and the extreme reduction of erosion are the main reasons
in this case. Over a few years it will build new soil and
a healthy base for grasses and other beneficial species.
Millions of acres
in this area are covered with one species of plant: Ashe
Juniper. It is a native species and is well adapted to an
arid region. Unfortunately, due to civilization interfering
with natural controls it has taken over much of the area.
This is adding significantly to the lack of ground water
and our overall water problems. Once again, the primary
reason is the foliage of the cedar tree holds so much rain
before any can hit the ground. Walk through a dense cedar
covered area in a rainstorm. You will be amazed at how dry
you will stay under the cedar trees.
If it rains less
than a quarter inch you probably will be completely dry.
Now look down at the ground. It will be completely dry also.
If a large machine is brought in to mulch the trees in place
the same material that was preventing the water from hitting
the ground now serves the exact opposite purpose. It holds
the moisture in the ground. The mulch also shades the soil
and lowers the soil temperature in the summer reducing the
baked barren soil we see so much of around here. Erosion
is stopped by the pieces of wood physically holding the
particles of soil that were flowing down with the water.
This collection of soil particles not only stops erosion
in its tracks, but it slowly builds new soil from the upstream
erosion, new vegetation, and the decomposing mulch.
A common question
we hear is what to do with the mulch? Well, for the reasons
explained above it should be left. If there was little or
no native species of grasses then the area should be seeded.
The results of this land restoration will not be as immediate
as the new views created by clearing the cedar, but they
may be just as rewarding. The New Year is a good time to
plan for a land restoration project!
