Benefits Of Adding Mulch In The Garden

What is mulch and how can it help

Mulch is made of decomposed natural materials which can act as fertilizer to help garden plants grow healthy and strong. The leaves, twigs, and pine needles found on the ground in wooded areas are good examples. Trees shed these materials routinely so there is always plenty of organic material on the ground. In addition, all kinds of animals that live in and around the trees leave their waste matter. This matter eventually decomposes and becomes fertilizer for the soil below the top layer of the ground. Animals will also die in the forest leaving decomposing carcasses. All these forms of organic matter eventually result in a mulch material that also makes a good compost to support plant growth. It is often mixed with living plant and stone materials also found in the forest.

However, this level of decayed organic matter is usually too much for the backyard garden. It is also difficult to harvest. So gardeners must find comparable solutions to feed their own planting beds, vegetable gardens, and landscaped areas. There are 3 basic types of garden mulch: organic, living, and inorganic.

Inorganic stone mulch

This type of material is made up of rocks and stones that cannot be broken down with water or other liquids. It is used to preserve planting areas and helps the ground beneath to retain moisture, while allowing rain and water to penetrate the soil. It will not decompose but may require additional stone to be added occasionally. Another advantage of stone is that it can be found in varying natural colors or earth tones to coordinate with landscaping. It makes excellent landscaping mulch for plants like succulents that grow in dry, arid regions and do not require frequent watering.

Organic mulch

The most common organic product is pine bark chips. This type of product comes from the forest and can be used to retain moisture as well as add a decorative accent to planting beds. It will break down over time and can add some nutrients to the soil, acting as somewhat of a natural fertilizer. Most pine barks are somewhat light in color and serve as a natural looking and attractive accent for planting areas.

Living mulch

Ground cover such as with various creeping vines, ivy, and other spreading plants is considered living material that can cover and protect the soil from erosion. Though they do not necessarily add nutrients ground covers help prevent the depletion of nutrients from the soil and inhibit the growth of weeds and harmful micro-organisms. Professionals at gardening supply retailers can often give advice on the types of ground cover that will work for specific conditions or climate conditions.

Like the forest ground cover mulch is designed to retain moisture and nutrients in the soil, inhibit harmful organisms from growing, prevent erosion, and often provide a more decorative or natural look to planting areas.

To see our mulch, watch this VIDEO.

More information and helpful tips about mulch in the garden can be found here.

When And How To Mulch

Many people are not quite sure how and when to mulch their garden. Basically, you are going to need a shovel with a wide mouth, a wheelbarrow, and also a garden fork.

The first thing that you are going to want to do is put down a mulch mat. This job of this tool is to keep the weeds from coming through the mulch and causing chaos for your beautiful garden. Some people think that black plastic is the answer to this problem.

However, it is not going to work the way that you have planned. It will prevent moisture from reaching your plants. Before you know it, they will be dead. Something else to keep in mind is that when you eventually want to tear up your garden, you are going to be working through the black plastic and it is going to be a total nightmare for you to deal with. If you are just getting started with your garden, the first thing that you are going to want to do is start with your topsoil. The type of topsoil that you will use will depend on how big your plants are and also the coarseness of your mulch. If you have a fine mulch, you can put it around your plants once they are in the ground. This is also the same case if you have a garden that is already thriving. You should be able to spread the mulch around your plants without any problems.

You are most likely asking yourself the question, how much mulch will I need?

A common rule is one cubic meter of mulch for 10 m wide and 10 cm deep. This may seem like a lot of work right now. However, if you consider the fact that your garden will thrive for many years with this mulch, it is a little easier to handle.

The hardest part about using mulch on a garden is putting it in place. In some cases, the mulch is to pick up with a shovel. If this is the case, do not be afraid to get your hands dirty.

There are a couple of other options that you can use to spread your mulch:

·         A garden fork is perfect for anyone who is planting a garden with mulch. You will be able to pick up a decent amount of mulch and spread it where ever you would like. This is perfect if you are planting trees, or even as a ground covering.

·         Some people prefer to put the mulch inside a black plastic bag with a hole cut in the corner. This way, you can slowly spread your mulch where ever it needs to be.

·         You may even consider using the hand method. This is going to get your hands dirty. However, it will work just as good as any of the other methods.

·         Your shovel is the perfect tool to spread your mulch where ever it needs to be.

·         Most people are able to figure out a useful method that may tend to stick to.

Now, you are most likely asking yourself the question, when to mulch? Many people prefer to mulch year-round. This is an excellent way to keep the moisture down around your plants. This way, you do not have to water as frequently.

If you know that you are going to be mulching your garden, you may as well loosen it up and put a little fertilizer in as well. This way, you will be conquering two things at the same time. Remember to water after you fertilize so that your plants do not dry out.

Summertime is very fun if you love to work in the garden. Do not forget the appropriate amount of mulch for the square footage of your garden. If you are still not sure when to mulch or how to mulch, you can always check out the link for more information.