It also serves severalpractical purposesand can do a lot more than simply beautify your landscape.
It suppresses weeds, moderates temperatures, and retains moisture in the soil.
It can even be used along with newspaper or plastic tosmother unwanted grassand create new garden beds.
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With organic mulches, additional benefits are realized when they decompose.
They improve soil structure by loosening clay and compacted soils.
Mulch will function in different ways depending on which part of the yard you’re using it in.
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Its use in a backyardvegetable gardenwill differ from how it might be used in aflower bedin thefront yard.
Here we’ll learn what types ofmulchare available and how they work best in different areas of the yard.
Types of Mulch
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There are organic and inorganic mulches.
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In this instance, organic mulch is the correct key in to choose.
Develop a clear idea of how you want the mulch to work in your specific garden areas.
In the North, bark is popular for highly visible areas.
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Bark is generally available as a shredded mulch or in small or large chunks.
It is also sold in severaldifferent colors.
It adds a finished look to landscaping without detracting from the aesthetic experience.
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In the South, pine straw is popular, partly because it’s widely available.
However, on average, it can cost anywhere from $200 to $300 to mulch an area.
This base number might be helpful when considering other factors before beginning the project.
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What Are Organic vs. Inorganic Mulches?
Bark and straw are both organic, but the straw decomposes faster, adding nutrients to the soil quickly.
Tip
Straw stalks are hollow, making them a good insulator.
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Take advantage of this to keep your soil cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
For many, the answer is bark, which is what we’ll use here.
There are different types which generally include hardwood, pine, bark, and cedar.
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Our sample project uses pine which is fairly cost effective.
Before you add new mulch, it is a good idea to clear out anyold mulch.
When is the Best Time to Mulch?
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Prepare the Bed
Tidy up plants before applying mulch.
Rake the soil evenly and remove any rocks.
Transport Mulch
Large bags of mulch can be heavy, especially when wet.
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It also helps to wear a back support for lifting.
Warning
Keep mulch a few inches away from plants.
This facilitates airflow, which helps prevent diseases.
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Pests are also more likely to attack a tree, etc.
that has mulch jammed right up against its base.
This is often called “volcano” mulching.
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Double-Check Depth
Plan for enough product to give you a mulch layer about 3 inches deep.
If you’re able to see bare soil poking through you oughta add more.
Weeds will invade beds with too shallow a mulch layer, spoiling your hard work.
Inspring,remove mulch that’s been covering perennial rootsduring winter so you don’t smother them.
Once they’ve put on new growth, it’s possible for you to carefully reapply mulch.
Alternatively, the straw will break down over time and can be tilled under in the fall.
Straw also is a cost-effective choice for the vegetable bed.
Here we’re mulching the bed in spring before planting.
Later, transplants can easily be installed in the bed.
With a steel garden rake, even out the soil surface, removing rocks.
Straw bales are large, heavy, and unwieldy to maneuver.
A wagon or wheelbarrow is a handy piece of equipment for moving the bales.
Straw is also messy and the stiff stalks can give a good poke.
These are tightly packed sections of the bale that are much easier to handle and spread.
The deeper you layer the straw, the better this mulch will work to suppress unwanted weeds.
