Weeding and Mulching
Ages 3 and up (3-4 sessions of 30-45 minutes)
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Objectives:
- To learn about the benefits of mulching the garden
- To distinguishing weeds from desired plants
- To become aware of plant characteristics
- To understanding what makes a weed, a weed
Mulch reduces the amount of weeding and hoeing that will have to be done in the garden. When mulch decomposes, it can add organic matter to the soil. It can warm the soil for an earlier start, or keep it cool in hot weather. Mulch helps conserve moisture and prevents the possibility of erosion. There are several different choices for mulch, choose whatever works best for your garden. This may require research on your part for what is available in your area. We chose salt marsh hay, because it was available in our area and doesn’t contain weed seeds.
See table 6 for the pros and cons of different mulches.
Materials:
- Hay bales, or other mulch,
- Wheel barrow or 5 gallon buckets for carrying the mulches.
Part One:
After the bales of salt-marsh hay were delivered, we allowed the children to jump off them and play. The children adjusted to the smell of the hay (it smells salty or musty). Talk about the benefits of mulching and what weeds are. Go on a weed hunting expedition.
Part Two:
Demonstrate how to spread the mulch around the plants then supervise the fun.
Questions to ask:
Do you know what weeds are?
How can we eliminate the weeds in the garden besides mulching? Could we step on them all? Pull them up?
Why does covering weeds with mulch stop them from growing?
What is another reason that it’s good to mulch a garden?
