Mulch Information

Actinomycete	A group of microorganisms, intermediate between bacteria and true fungi, which usually produce a characteristic branched mycelium. These organisms are responsible for the earthy smell of compost.

Aeration	The process by which the oxygen-deficient air in compost is replaced by air from the atmosphere. Aeration can be enhanced by turning.

Aerobic	An adjective describing an organism or process that requires oxygen (for example, an aerobic organism).

Anaerobic	An adjective describing an organism or process that does not require air or free oxygen.

Bacteria	A group of microorganisms having single-celled or non cellular bodies.

Berm	A narrow ledge or shelf, as along the top or bottom of a slope

Blanket	Material placed on soil or a stream bank to cover eroding soil.

Bud	A dormant, immature shoot from which leaves or flowers may develop.

Buffer	A small area of permanent vegetation bordering a field, stream, or lake or running through cropland, protecting the soil from wind and rain erosion, slowing water runoff, and trapping sediment and other pollutants

Clay	Cohesive soil whose individual particles are not visible to the unaided human eye (less than 0.002 mm in diameter). Clay can be molded into a ball that will not crumble.

Compaction	The pressing together of soil particles into a more dense mass

Compost	Composting is the biological degradation and transformation of organic solid waste under controlled conditions designed to promote aerobic decomposition. Natural decay of organic solid waste under uncontrolled conditions is not composting.

Conifers	Conifers are cone bearing trees. Common conifers are Pine, Spruce and Cypress, and Cedars. The Yew tree is also classed within the conifer family despite producing berries rather than cones. Coniferous trees are distinctive in having needles as opposed to leaves and being evergreen rather than deciduous, although there are exceptions to this, such as Larch, which is deciduous.

Erosion Control Blanket	Blanket made from compost, topsoil, straw, or any material and enveloped in plastic or biodegradable netting. Used to stabilize disturbed or highly erosive soils while vegetation is established. Temporary blankets made from biodegradable or photodegradable components last several months to a year, and permanent blankets (also called turf reinforcement mats) can last for several years.

Erosion	Removal of soil particles by wind and water

Field Capacity	The amount of water a soil can hold

Fill Material	Soil, rock, gravel or other matter that is placed at a specified location to bring the ground surface up to a desired elevation

Fungi	Plantlike organisms that lack chlorophyll and use living or dead organisms as food by breaking them down and then absorbing the substances into their cells. Fungi make up one of the five kingdoms of living things on Earth. Mushrooms, yeast and molds are types of fungi.

Fungicide	Any material capable of killing fungi. Sulfur and copper sulfate are two common mineral fungicides.

Geo-textile	Textile made from synthetic fibers, usually non-biodegradable. Geo-textiles can be woven or non-woven and have varying degrees of porosity. They are used as moisture barriers, for separation or reinforcement of soils, for filtration, and for drainage.

Gravel	Soil particles ranging from 1/5 inch to 3 inches in diameter

Green Wood	This is wood that is 'fresh', that is, taken straight from a felled tree or a branch that has been removed from the tree. The wood still holds a vast amount of water and because of this is easier to work with, softer and still retaining its natural, living shape. When green wood is dried, it can crack and split due to shrinkage from the loss of moisture. However, if stacked and stored correctly, wood can be dried, or 'seasoned' so that splitting, cracking or decay do not occur.

Hardwood	Hardwood refers to the timber of broadleaved trees.

Herbaceous	A plant with soft rather than woody tissues.

Humus	Dark colored soil organic matter.

Inorganic	Not composed of organic matter. Involving no organic life or products of organic life.

Insecticide	Any material that kills insects. There are numerous botanical and mineral powders that are toxic to insects, as well as biodegradable chemicals such as insecticidal soaps.

Invasive Species	Native or non-native plants that invade and attempt to dominate an area already colonized by other plant species. As they can be very aggressive, existing plants and trees can suffer from being over shaded and become suppressed, die or self-set seeds may not germinate due to space restrictions and shade.

Leaf Litter	Leaf litter refers to leaves that have fallen from the canopy of trees, shrubs and other flora that remain on the woodland floor. This is an essential part of the woodland ecosystem as it allows nutrients from the soil that are used by plants to be recycled back into the soil upon degradation.

Lime	A rock powder consisting primarily of calcium carbonate that is used to raise the pH or to decrease the acidity of acid soils.

Loam	An easily crumbled soil consisting of a mixture of clay, silt, and sand

Microscopic Soil Particles	Clay and silt; particles that cannot be observed by the unaided human eye

Mulch	Any material placed on the soil surface to reduce evaporation, help control weeds or prevent erosion. Mulch is any material, such as wood chips, grass clippings, leaves, or compost that is spread over the surface of soil.

Mycorrhizae	Fungi in soil; beneficial mycorrhizae in the root systems of plants help plants withstand extreme temperatures and increase their capacity to acquire nutrients

Nitrogen	Very important plant nutrient to help plants to develop foliage and stem growth. It is the main ingredient of lawn food.

Organic Matter	Soil material deriving from living material, composed of carbon containing compounds. Yard waste, food waste, manure, and woody debris; these organic materials decompose in nature to make healthy soil.

Over seeding	Adding new seeds into an existing lawn to improve bare spots, thicken turf and helps crowd out weeds.

Perennial	Any plant that lives more than three years and does not die after flowering once. The term is generally applied only to herbaceous plants, which die back to the ground each year, as opposed to those with persistent, woody stems - though there is a variety of opinion published.

pH	pH describes how acidic or alkaline a substance is. pH is measured on a scale of 1-15. A pH of 1 is the most acidic and toxic to most forms of life whilst at the opposite end of the spectrum a pH of 15 is the most alkaline and also toxic to life. A pH of 7 is called neutral. It is very important to know the pH of a woodland soil because this will affect the choice of tree species which will be best suited to the conditions. A soil may be adapted to raise or lower the pH to provide more ideal conditions as a growing medium, although in some cases, the soil may eventually return to its previous pH value.

Rhizome	A thick underground stem from which buds and roots develop. Usually persistent from year to year.

Rock	Soil particles greater than 3 inches in diameter

Sand	Soil particles ranging from 0.05 to 2.0 mm in diameter; individual particles are visible to the unaided human eye

Seasoned Wood	This refers to fuel wood that has been allowed to dry before burning. Seasoning generally takes six to 12 months. Wood burns much easier when its moisture content has been reduced. Freshly cut wood contains over 20% water.

Sediment	Soil particles that have been transported away from their natural location by wind or water action

Seedling	A young plant, with particular reference to those grown from seed as opposed to cuttings.

Silt	Soil whose individual particles are not visible to the unaided human eye (0.002 to 0.05 mm). Silt will crumble when rolled into a ball.

Sod	Plugs, squares, or strips of turf with the adhering soil

Softwood	Softwood refers to the timber of coniferous trees.

Soil	The unconsolidated cover of the earth (not compacted), made up of mineral and organic components, water and air and capable of supporting plant life. Soil finer than sand but coarser than clay, but not so fine that it can remain suspended in water for long periods. The grain size is considered to be less than 0.0625 mm.

Soil Amendment	Any material added to the soil to enhance plant growth and soil tilth through improving the physical, chemical, and biological status of the soil. They contain mostly organic matter or very slow release minerals. Soil amendments are usually tilled into the top six inches of the soil.

Soil Organic Matter	All organic substance in the soil, living or dead, fresh or decomposed. Includes plant roots, small animals, plant and animal residues, humus and microbes.

Species	Plants within a species have several characteristics in common, but most importantly, can cross with one another, but not normally with members of another species. The classification of species is quite fluid, with frequent revision by botanists.

Sucker	A shoot or stem that grows from the root of a plant - often after it is damaged by digging too close to the plant. The resulting plant growth is usually weaker than from the main stems and should be cut off so as not to drain the plant of energy.

Sustainable	Maintain and keep in existence

Texture	Refers to relative proportions of clay, silt, and sand in soil

Tilth	Cultivated soil in good physical condition for supporting soil life. Soil is loose and easy to work, so tools as well as plant roots can readily dig in. The tilth of the soil is a composite of its texture, structure, aggregation, density, drainage, and water holding capacity.

Thatch	A layer of organic material between the crown of the plant and the true soil surface

Topdressing	A thin layer of soil applied to a turf

Topsoil	The surface layer of soil containing partly decomposed organic debris, which is usually high in nutrients, contains many seeds, and is rich in mycorrhizae.

Wetland	This is land that during the majority of the year is damp, if not flooded. It is characterized by a specific flora of plants that are able to cope with the lack of oxygen in the soil and the levels of nutrient accumulation that are toxic or become inaccessible to non-wetland plants. Many wetlands have been drained for agricultural purposes or polluted by toxic run-off and as a result the species which live in them are often rare and endangered.

Yard Waste	Plant material commonly created in the course of maintaining yards and gardens and through horticulture, gardening, landscaping or similar activities. Yard debris includes, but is not limited to grass clippings, leaves, branches, brush, weeds, flowers, roots, windfall fruit, and vegetable garden debris.