I have been trying to find a resource for recycling wine corks in Hawaii, to no avail. However, in my search, many websites have suggested using them as garden mulch. Any thoughts on the subject? I live in Hilo. Thanks! — S.K.
I have been trying to find a resource for recycling wine corks in Hawaii, to no avail. However, in my search, many websites have suggested using them as garden mulch. Any thoughts on the subject? I live in Hilo. Thanks! — S.K.
I also did a little search and aside from some cute pictures of corks around trees or in a potted house plant, there doesn’t seem to be anyone conducting research on corks as mulch. Perhaps some of the readers will be willing to report on this subject.
Cork material is harvested from the bark of the cork oak tree, Quercus suber. It is an organic material, and therefore, I see no reason why corks cannot be used as mulch or even tossed into the compost pile. How long they will take to break down, I don’t know.
Breaking the corks into smaller bits will hasten decomposition, but that task could be time consuming. Used as a mulch, i.e., placed on top of the soil, cork will eventually break down, as any other bark material would and will release small amounts of nutrients into the soil. The cork cover would also act to help conserve water during a drought. And once the corks break down they will make a positive contribution to the soil’s structure.
For me, when using large amounts of corks in the garden as mulch, I would be concerned with the aesthetics of the situation. Coming up with an attractive way of presenting this type of mulch would be important.
Cork trees grow naturally around the western Mediterranean Sea. Major producing countries include Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. Nearly half of the cork harvested each year, about 310,000 tons, comes from Portugal. This country has more than 5 million acres of cork trees.
The cork oak is a medium-sized, evergreen tree. Despite the fact that its bark is stripped 15 to 18 times during its lifetime, at nine-year intervals, it can live an average of 150 to 250 years. The first “cork cut” is taken from 25-year-old trees. Only the bark is extracted, and a new layer of cork is regenerated, making it a renewable resource. Cork harvesting is done entirely without machinery. Usually five people are required to harvest the tree’s bark, using a small axe.
Cork has many uses besides capping wine bottles. It is made into motor gaskets, flooring, insoles of shoes, as insulation against sound and temperature changes, in spacecraft heat shields and as the core of both baseballs and cricket balls.
In the 1940s and 50s, more than 2,000 cork oak trees were planted on the various Hawaiian Islands. On the Big Island, trees have been planted in Ka‘u and Hilo and on the slopes of Mauna Kea.
Planting a Lawn?
Planting the wrong grass can be costly and disappointing. For those planning to establish a lawn this year, first read the CTAHR publication titled, “Adaptation of Turfgrasses in Hawaii.” This publication looks at more than a dozen turfgrass species and rates them for numerous characteristics like their tolerance to shade, wear, drought, their nitrogen requirement, leaf texture and whether they are high or low maintenance.
Another publication, “Common Lawn Grasses for Hawaii,” lists the desirable and undesirable characteristics of more than 15 of Hawaii’s grasses.
The lawn you plant should last for many years, so spend time now and investigate the different turf species. It is important to identify what qualities and characteristics you want in a lawn.
Gardening Class
I have been asked to repeat the Vegetable Gardening class on Saturday, from 9:30 a.m.-noon. There is still space in this class. Call call UH-Hilo Continuing Education at 974-7664 or email http://hilo.hawaii.edu/academics/ccecs/registration/. There is a fee. Let’s change the sad statistic that in Hawaii: We produce only 8 percent of our food. It is time to plant a garden!
Hilo resident Nick Sakovich is a professor emeritus of the University of California. He has worked in the field of agriculture for 30 years, and is a member of University of Hawaii Master Gardeners. E-mail your questions to Sakovich at askthegardenguy@earthlink.net.