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<pre>Dear Paul,
With young trees at planting I place a used car tyre over the top of the
tree then spread a 40 l bag of dry sheep manure around the outside of the
tyre.
This maintains a gap away from the tree trunk as well as preventing rabbits
from scratching around the root zone.
Secondly the black tyre maintains heat which I believe helps with frost
control at the tree base.
I spray fish emulsion on the sheep manure which assists with the breakdown
of the manure and provides valuable organic matter for soil microbes.
Weeds do appear but are easily removed by hand or by light hoeing.
Neville Burt
----- Original Message -----
From: Paul H DAle <
paul@organic-olives.com>
To: OliveOil chat <
OliveOil@onelist.com>
Sent: Sunday, October 24, 1999 9:44 AM
Subject: [OliveOil] organic Mulches
> From: "Paul H DAle" <
paul@organic-olives.com>
>
> I'm keen to hear of other peoples ideas and experiences with no spray
> vegetation management under olives trees of various ages.
> The practises of soil cultivation under older trees may not be so
> appropriate for new plantings (one or two year old).
> Likewise I'm interested how others have found different mulches around
> younger trees.
> The importance of minimising competition , while not maintaining excessive
> moisture, and promoting solar warmth, are also areas I'd like to compare
> experiences.
> regards
>
> Paul & Di
> Organic Olives of New Zealand
> Box 13252
> RD 5 Hoskyns Road
> Christchurch
> phone: 64 3 3181181
> fax: 64 3 3181599
> email:
paul@organic-olives.com
>
> > ***** Life is healthier with Olive Oil *****
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</pre>
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