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Our Changing Climates and Mulches.

© Gary Buckley

Mulches suppress weeds when the mulch material itself is applied deeply enough to prevent weed germination or smother existing smaller weeds. An occasional weed may poke through the mulch, but it can be easily pulled out.

Mulch materials have many beneficial effects upon the soil and plants. They prevent loss of water from the soil by evaporation. Moisture moves by capillary action to the surface and evaporates if not covered by a mulch. Mulching will prevent crusting of the soil surface, thus improving absorption and percolation of water into the soil and at the same time, eliminating erosion.

Maintenance of a more uniform soil temperature can be obtained by mulching. The mulch acts as an insulator that keeps the soil cool under intense sunlight and warm during cold spells.

Mulches also add to the beauty of the landscape by providing a cover of uniform colour and interesting texture to an otherwise drab surface. Dark colored mulches widen the pupil of the eye, allowing more of the sensible light from flowers to enter the eye. Consequently, those dark mulches give plantings a more attractive appearance.

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Here hammer milled bark is perfect, as long as one recognises the needs of the plants mulched.

Geelong is getting hotter, both in winter and summer, because of hot winds out of the great Southern Desert, we are becoming more like Namaqualand by the minute.

So, the Namaqualand Flowers may suit here better with our changing climate, this is why I gave up trying to keep a total tree canopy during summer. Cooler climate bulbs with increasing Greenhouse effects mean we all, sooner or later, will have to reassess our growings.

Namaqualand, situated along the West Coast of South Africa, is a harsh and mostly dry region that has little water and rain, much like Geelong. Water here now is worth its weight in gold.

The Namaqualand semi-desert reserve is especially known for its indigenous flora and fauna. These plants produce mass displays of flowers transforming the veld (plains) into a mosaic of colour for a few weeks each year.

Namaqualand is truly a land of contrasts. For the major part of the year this arid expanse of sunbaked sandy plains and granite mountains hides a wonderful secret. With the first rains in early season these dry lands are transformed into a kaleidescope of brilliant colour.

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