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Bamboo is a great resource for the garden. The cane can be used as a privacy screen or a construction material. But the benefits of the leaves can often be overlooked though they are packed with nutrients. So, are bamboo leaves suitable to be used as mulch?
Bamboo leaves will make good mulch. They contain silica, which is important for plant growth. This element can help boost nutrient uptake and improve resilience. However, gardeners will need to apply this mulch selectively, as they have the potential to kill plants in the early growth stage.
If you have bamboo, you’ll be able to get a steady supply of leaves. These can be an excellent resource for your garden. Keep reading to learn more about this type of mulch and how you can use it in your garden.
What Are the Benefits Of Using Bamboo Leaves As Mulch?
Bamboo leaves are high in silica, which allows for stronger cell walls and improves resilience. It also has a low nitrogen uptake, leaving more nutrients in the soil. It helps make the soil more alkaline, which can suit plants that like higher pH levels.
There are a few reasons why you might want to use bamboo leaves in your garden. First, these leaves are highly permeable to water, making them an ideal choice for plants that need a lot of moisture. Plus, it will allow oxygen to flow into the soil.
Another reason why people like to use bamboo leaves is that they have a low nitrogen drawdown. This measures how much nitrogen is sucked from the soil as the organic material is broken down. Since it has a low nitrogen drawdown level, you won’t need to add as much fertilizer to your plants.
It also has an alkalizing effect on the soil. This makes it the ideal choice for plants that prefer a higher pH level. It can also be used in soils that have a high degree of heavy metals, helping break them down so your plants can grow. Most hardware stores will sell pH tests so you can monitor the impact this mulch is having on your soil.
This mulch also has some unique nutritional properties. One of the most important is a high level of organic silica. This will provide a few benefits to your plants, including:
- Improving nutrient uptake
- Building stronger cell walls
- Increasing resistance to pests and fungi
- Improving resistance to drought and cold weather
- Increases the amount of chlorophyll in the leaves for improved photosynthesis.
Plus, bamboo leaves are relatively abundant. Even established plants will produce new leaf growth each year. Their large size makes them easy to rake up and store.
Downsides of Using Bamboo Mulch
While bamboo leaf mulch has many benefits, there is a substantial downside to consider. It has allelopathic tendencies. This means that it will produce chemicals that will kill other plants. This was developed as a natural defense, stopping other plants from stealing resources.
A study from the College of Forestry
found that these chemicals had the most detrimental impact on plants that were at the early growth stage. Because of this, you should only use these leaves on more established plants.
It should be noted that you can add these leaves to the compost pile. When broken down in this way, the allelopathic chemicals will lose their potency. Because of this, you’ll be able to use the compost without the risk of killing plants.
How To Use Bamboo Leaf Mulch in Your Garden?
It’s recommended that bamboo leaves are shredded. They should be one inch or smaller; this speeds up the decomposition process. For garden beds, use two to three inches of mulch; for trees, use three to five inches of mulch. Finish by lightly watering to start breaking the leaves down.
There are a few steps to follow if you want to use bamboo leaves as mulch. Trying to remove the leaves from the branches can be a little tricky. But there is a simple tip you can use. When the branches fall off the bamboo, leave them to lie on the ground for a few days. Once they dry out, the leaves will come off freely, as this video shows.
Once you have the leaves, you’ll need to shred them. They should be about an inch large. This ensures that they will decompose quickly. If you have a small garden, you might be able to cut them by hand. However, it’s usually best if you use a chipper.
The next thing to do is spread the leaves across the garden. How much mulch you apply depends on the garden you are growing. But here are some tips you can use:
- Garden beds. These will often require two to three inches of mulch.
- Trees. These will often need between three to four inches of mulch. Though if you are in for a harsh winter, you can go up to six inches.
When you are laying the mulch, you will need to be careful. You don’t want to pile it around the base of the plant. This gives them space to breathe and lowers the chances that your plants will be susceptible to fungal diseases.
After you have finished adding the mulch, you can give it a light watering. This will start the decomposition process.
It should be noted that some people report feeling irritation when handling bamboo leaves. This could be because of an allergic reaction. Because of this, you might want to wear gloves when handling the bamboo leaves.
The good news is that bamboo leaves will take longer to break down than other types of leaves. They should be able to last for a few weeks.
Can You Use Bamboo Cane and Roots As Mulch?
Bamboo cane and roots can be great for mulch. They will decompose slowly, lasting for several months. However, gardeners need to kill the ribozymes to prevent new bamboo shoots from growing. Because of this, they will need to be shredded or dried out before they can be used for mulch.
While we’ve focused on the leaves, they aren’t the only part of the bamboo that you can use for mulching. Cane, roots, and shoots can also be effective mulching items. They are very strong, so they will take a long time to break down.
If you are planning on using other parts of the bamboo, there are a few things that you need to know:
- Bamboo roots can cause shoots. Some gardeners have added bamboo roots to their garden, only to find that new bamboo plants are starting to grow. This is because the roots contain ribozymes, which allow for the germination of a new plant.
- You’ll need to chop these up. To kill the ribozymes, you will need to chop up the plant. Many people opt to use a chipper. However, the bamboo will be tough, so you’ll need to make sure that your chipper is strong enough to cope. If not, you’ll need to chop them by hand.
- Dry out the bamboo. Another way to stop ribozymes is to dry out the plant. This will kill any viable ribozymes.
Once you’ve prepared the plants properly, you’ll be able to spread the mulch around your garden.
Check out: Can You Compost Bamboo?
Final Thoughts
Bamboo leaves can be an excellent form of mulch. They will help lock moisture and heat into the soil while providing plants with the nutrients they need to thrive. But you will need to be careful about the circumstances in which they are used. Avoid using these leaves around early growth. If you are concerned about their allelopathic nature, you can compost them instead.
Sources
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227620301563#bib0001
- https://www.maximumyield.com/simply-silica/2/1077
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325168743_Allelopathic_effect_of_leaf_leachates_of_solid_bamboo_Dendrocalamus_stocksii_Munro_on_growth_and_yield_of_Eleusine_coracana_L_Gaertn
