No more “volcano” mulching around trees! Keeping mulch away from the trunk discourages wood-boring insects, gnawing rodents, and decay. Keep mulch 6 to 12 inches away from the base of woody plants. Mulch can contribute to rotting bark if piled up around the trunks of trees and shrubs.A layer of 2 to 3 inches of mulch is ample. TOO much mulch (a layer more than 3 inches deep) can bury and suffocate plants water and oxygen can’t reach the roots.Makes gardens “spiffed up” and attractive, giving a uniform appearance and rhythm to garden design.Īlthough using mulch has many benefits, in some cases, its use can be detrimental to the garden:. Improves plant health and growth (due to fewer weeds and more consistent moisture and soil temperature).Limits the chance of damaging trees’ trunks when mulch is placed around them instead of grass.Keeps plants clean and off the ground, especially tomatoes and melons, to avoid plant disease.Warms the soil in spring, allowing the gardener to plant days or weeks before the soil would normally be ready.Slowly increases soil fertility (if organic) and may make micronutrients already in the soil more available.Improves the structure of clay soils and the moisture-holding capacity of sandy soils.Breaks down and feeds the soil (if organic mulch).Keeps soil from splashing onto leaves keeping soil off leaves reduces the chance of plants getting fungal and bacterial diseases.Water moves more readily into soil covered with mulch instead of running off. Prevents crusting of the soil surface.This protects plants from the cycle of freezing and thawing (which can heave them out of the ground). In winter, soil under mulch will be warmer than unprotected soil.Protects plants from the harsh conditions of winter freezes, thaws, and winds.Protects bare soil, reducing erosion and soil compaction.Moderates soil temperatures, keeping it warmer on cold nights and cooler on hot days.Reduces water loss from the soil surface, which helps maintain soil moisture.Reduces weed growth by keeping light from reaching the soil surface.Done correctly, mulching feeds our soil’s living microorganisms with nutrients and the waste from these tiny microbes creates healthier soil structure for plants, limiting compaction. It’s only recently that we’ve come to appreciate mulch’s sustainable and ecological benefits. In the garden, mulch can also include compost, wood chips, rotted manure, cardboard, or even seaweed. In nature, mulch is simply fallen leaves and plant debris. 12 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Garden WeedsĪt its simplest, mulch is any material that covers the soil’s surface.
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