Q.Why Would You Recommend 75% Vinegar To 25% Water To Spray On Garden Beds Mulched With Cocoa Hull Munch?
RE your coco hull much article. This solution is a good way to kill everything it touches that’s green and being highly acidic it’s not good for many plants. Vinegar is used as a weed killer; however it typically kills the top growth but not to the root unless using high percentage. And if they are using high acid white vinegar like 20% horticultural vinegar — you could really do damage and quite frankly, I’d sue you for loss of landscaping. And repeated use along with rain and irrigation — will kill beneficial organisms in the soil as vinegar can be a disinfectant for both bad and good microbes — it does distinguish between the two. Not to mention earthworms. The best thing is to only use in areas of good sunshine, and not more than 2” over well draining soil. And you may want to consider reactions between some soils, fertilizer minerals and other products and vinegar. If the dry powdery mildew use a product like Green Cure (potassium bicarbonate) meant to kill powdery mildew and others fungus on plants. Do not use sodium bicarbonate – it can be phytotoxicity in the sun, provides nothing for the plant, adds sodium to the soil. Baking soda is also used to up water pH so it has that possibility in soil too. Potassium bicarbonate breaks down to be useful to the plant, it can also be harmful to the leaves too if applied in hot sun. Best early in the morning or almost dark is better so it has all night to dry. Potassium is helpful in rooting, blooming, heat tolerance, and photosynthesis moving nutrients around in the plants.
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
In order to provide information to a broad audience, we must include articles that people request. Everyone has a different method of gardening. Vinegar should be used sparingly, and only to kill SURFACE MOLDS. It does not say, in the article, to spray plants, as that is a way to kill them. When used, properly, it will not pose harm.
Alternatively, you can choose a mulch that is less prone to rot, and avoid the issue altogether.
