Q.I’ve Just Sown Some Seeds Directly To The Ground ! It’s Challenging To Keep The Seeds Out And To Keep The Soil Moist ! When Do
I mulch the area ? Right now before the seeds germinated and sprouted out through the soil ? 1) when do I mulch ? Must know this ! 2) What can I do to weeds out or to minimum from flower and vegetables beds ? 3) What can I do keep soil moist ? What is the most effective, economic watering Solution as I don’t have sprinkler system !
I agree that this is tricky to achieve consistently moist soil, especially with tiny seeds that are often simply pressed into soil and not buried. I have used a thin layer of straw, or even hamster bedding, to shield the soil from intense, drying sunshine. Providing shade during midday heat is also helpful. A piece of cardboard propped up or run through by long sticks achieves this. Or support an old towel or bedlinen over the area. You might also set a sprinkler on a timer if there is one available that allows 2 or 3 settings per day. If your seeds are of the same type and expected to germinate in roughly the same amount of time, burlap becomes another option. Wet burlap stays moist longer than straw. Peek under daily to see if germination has started since the burlap must be removed to give more sunlight to sprouts. As the plants grow, add more mulch. By the time they are 4-6 inches high, one to two inches of mulch is recommended. Mulches made from plant material are best. Keep 2 inches between plant stems and mulch.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/mulch/benefits-of-using-mulch.htm
