Mulch to cover culture substrates or potting soil in plant containers or as ground cover

摘要

Gritting material for the covering of mineral- and humus-rich and/or microbiologically-active soil or plant growth medium in plant containers or as a topping on outdoor soils, comprises a mixture of natural pure pine barks and cocoa shells. The positive effects of both the products are combined and the disadvantageous properties of the individual products are eliminated: by yielding an optimal nitrogen content in the growth medium; and bringing back the nitrogen from the growth medium by the pine barks, to the growth medium by the release of nitrogen from the cocoa shells. Gritting material for the covering of mineral- and humus-rich and/or microbiologically-active soil or plant growth medium in plant containers or as a topping on outdoor soils, comprises a mixture of natural pure pine barks and cocoa shells, where the essential natural characteristics of these two products are used. The positive effects of both the products are combined and the disadvantageous properties of the individual products are eliminated: by yielding an optimal nitrogen content in the growth media through the application of the gritting material mixture; and bringing back the nitrogen that is removed from the growth medium by the pine barks, to the growth medium by the release of nitrogen from the cocoa shells. An optimal nitrogen supply is ensured: by additional nitrogen fertilization through increasing the proportion of cocoa shells. The adhesion effect of the cocoa shells prevents the granular material from being carried or swept away by wind or storm and/or daily handling of the growth medium. The essential and well-known characteristics are promoted through exclusive topping with pine barks: -a natural protection from weeds is obtained through masking of the soil; -a natural protection from weeds is obtained by the release of tannic acid from the pine barks; -in the case of exposure to sun and/or high temperatures, the dehydration of the growth medium is prevented, since moisture cannot escape; -the unpleasant smell of the gritting material from pure bark-chip mulch and/or pine barks is replaced by a touch of sweet-smelling fragrance with cocoa, which renders additional advantages during the presentation of products and the decoration of e.g. plant beds.