What you should know about mulching

Dry soil? Mulch it. No worms in your garden? Mulch it. Extreme temperatures? Mulch it. Weeds growing in your garden? Mulch it. Mulching does not only add beauty to your garden, but it also retains the beauty of your garden. Here are some mulching tips and benefits.

Mulching is a layer of organic or inorganic material placed on top of soil. Adding mulch to your garden promotes good soil health by:

  • Locking moisture in the soil.

  • Adding nutrients and promoting soil organism activity.

  • Suppressing weeds.

  • Acting as an insulator. In the winter it protects plant roots. In the summer it keeps the soil
    cool.

  • Reducing erosion.

Types of mulch: Choosing your mulch depends on your budget and the dynamics of your garden. Sometimes organic mulch provides too much activity or too much moisture. On the other hand, inorganic mulch can retain too much heat from the sun. To get the best opinion, ask for recommendations at your local nursery.

Inorganic

  • Does not decompose.

  • Will need to be replaced over a longer period of time.

  • Typically made out of rocks, lava rock, rubber or plastic chips.

Organic

  • Made out of natural materials such as decomposed plant parts.

  • When decomposed it adds nutrients to the soil.

  • Needs to be replaced more frequently

Mulching Tips:

  • Apply about 1-3 in. deep.

  • Prevent "mulch volcanoes". Do not apply too much mulch around the bases of trees or
    shrubs.

  • The best times to mulch are during spring after planting new plants and late fall.

  • Plastic or fabric landscape?

    — Plastic is less permeable and is good at suppressing weed growth.

    — Fabric is permeable allowing all the valuable nutrients and water to nourish your plants.

Now is a perfect time to get things done around your home. What projects are you working on?