According to Dominique Soltner:
Hello Mr. Soltner,
You are absolutely right about the benefits of composting in place after mulching. As experienced gardeners know, this approach is far easier to implement and delivers superior results for current and future crops.
Discussing the shredding of straw, leaves, and hay for quality compost aims to counter the widespread but harmful habit of systematically burning garden waste. While mulching dry waste in beds boosts soil health, it often conflicts with societal aesthetic preferences.
I agree that beauty is subjective, and a garden's true value lies in the well-being of its inhabitants—especially those rooted in the soil.
Still, it's far better to see dry stems from yarrow and Perovskia composting naturally than reduced to ashes.
This practice also provides a vital source of dry matter (browns) to mix with green materials like grass clippings. It helps novice gardeners avoid composting pitfalls, such as unpleasant odors.
Aesthetics, agronomic principles, and gaps in ecological knowledge often lead to conflicting practices.
Sincerely,
Daniel Lys
And by the way, a bit of promotion for Dominique's latest book 😉 Click the image to get it.
