THE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO MULCH
Mulch is a common feature in many gardens. It looks tidy, clean, natural, and it has a whole host of benefits for your garden. In this guide to mulching, we’ll give you the lowdown on what you need to know, and share some tips for applying it to your yard.
BENEFITS OF MULCH
There are so many perks to adding a protective layer to your gardens––which is why we put together this handy guide! Mulching around your trees, shrubs, and perennials conserves moisture in the root zone. This means you use less water and spend less time watering plants in the summer. It also means your trees, shrubs, and perennials are at lower risk of drying out between rainstorms or in periods of drought.
Mulch insulates the soil to regulate the temperature in summer and winter. That means the roots of your trees and shrubs stay at a nice even temperature all summer, even when the weather is super hot. It also means the roots are protected from freeze-thaw cycles in the winter.
Freeze and thaw cycles in the spring can cause lasting damage to your plants. Mulch eases your plants more gently through the freeze and thaw periods via its layer of light insulation.
Mulching your yard helps to suppress weeds. A thick layer of mulch can be an effective way to minimize perennial weeds that can otherwise seem impossible to get rid of.
Mulch improves the soil in your yard over time. It is made of organic matter, like wood chips, and breaks down over time. All the nutrients and minerals that a tree held while it was growing will be slowly released into the soil in your yard as the mulch breaks down. This means healthier plants and less need for fertilizer.
A layer of mulch makes your yard look tidy and well kept, adding to your curb appeal. It’s also a quick and cheap way to step up the appearance of a lackluster yard when you’re trying to sell your home.
Last but not least, mulch lowers your time spent maintaining your yard. You’ll have less lawn to mow, fewer weeds to pull, and more time to spend enjoying your gardens.
Next up in our guide, what’s the difference between wood and rock mulch.
WOOD MULCH VS. ROCK MULCH
Both wood and rock ground coverings can be great garden additions. As mentioned above in the guide, mulching with organic matter improves the soil, retains moisture, regulates temperature, suppresses weeds, reduces watering needs, and it looks great. The downside of organic mulch is that it has to be replenished every few years to keep it looking good and keep the weeds from breaking through.
Rock cover in the garden also looks great, suppresses weeds, lasts for a very long time, and is very low maintenance. It’s actually lower maintenance than organic mulch. It is available in lots of different colors, textures, and sizes. But, the downsides of rock are that it is expensive upfront. Rock can also absorb heat and cause the soil below it to dry out faster. And rocks don’t break down over time, so they don’t improve your soil.
Landscaping fabric is commonly used in unison with rock landscaping. Together they help block weeds. The fabric is breathable, so it allows air and water to pass through but it still needs a layer of stone on top to keep it looking nice. Landscape fabric doesn’t easily allow for future additions of soil amendments, and it’s not impermeable to weeds as some roots are determined to find a way through. Landscape fabric doesn’t last forever, but it’s a great solution to consider when looking for a longer-term solution!
Rock is right near the top of the list for the most attractive mulch options. It’s also one of the lowest maintenance and longest-lasting options. A thick layer of rock, installed properly, should last from 10-20 years before it needs to be renewed. But, rock mulch comes with an expensive upfront cost.
GUIDE TO ORGANIC MULCHING OPTIONS
There are quite a few different things you can use as organic mulch in your yard and garden. Most organic mulches are quite affordable, and you can buy them in bulk or bagged. There are even a few types that are free!
BARK MULCH
Shredded bark is common and comes in quite a variety of colors based on the color of the tree it was made from. Bark does break down a little faster than other options because it’s made up of finer chunks and softer material than wood chips, but it does tend to weave itself together making it less likely to blow away into other areas of your yard. Bark mulch will need to be top-dressed every one to two years.
WOOD CHIPS
Wood chip mulch is also widely available and comes in a variety of colors. Be mindful when looking at colors because some are treated with dyes, some of which are not safe to have around pets. Stick with untreated or natural dyes to keep chemicals to a minimum. Wood chips should be top-dressed every two to three years.
LEAF MULCH
If you have lots of deciduous trees in your yard, you’ve got loads of free mulch! They’re actually one of the best things you can add to improve your soil. Rake them into a pile, mow over them a few times to chop them up smaller, then they’re less likely to blow around in the wind, and layer them wherever you need them.
GRASS CLIPPINGS
Collecting your grass clippings is another free mulch option. You can spread grass clippings in your garden beds. They’re pretty abundant since we all mow our lawns regularly, but you may not get enough to really mulch a significant area, and they really lose volume when they dry out. But, they are a great addition to your soil. Spread grass clippings in fairly thin layers, so it dries fast and doesn’t heat up. If applied too wet and too deep it can cause problems, and also begin to smell and rot. Grass clippings are also soft to walk on with bare feet. Just sayin'.
STRAW
Straw is a fairly cheap and readily available mulching option as well, though it’s not necessarily as attractive as others. Straw is very commonly used to mulch around strawberries. It is lightweight, allows plenty of air and water into the soil, and keeps your veggies or fruits off the soil so they don’t rot. It also improves your soil over time, especially texture-wise.
COMPOST
If you’ve got an active compost bin, that’s one of the best things you can use as mulch. It improves your soil nutrient levels and texture, and it will help suppress weeds as well if you can layer it thickly enough. The challenge with compost is that most gardeners can’t create as much as they need. But remember that you can add all your grass clippings and pruning discards, weeds that haven’t gone to seed, and all the leaves you rake up in the fall to your compost to bulk it up.
TIPS FOR MULCHING YOUR YARD & GARDEN
Applying mulch is pretty simple, though it’s a labor-intensive task. Here is a quick guide to help make your mulching endeavor a success.
Tools you’ll need: a wheelbarrow or garden cart, a shovel, a bow rake, and your muscles.
Depth matters more than the amount of area covered. Aim for a layer of mulch two to three inches thick around perennials and smaller plants, and three to four inches is recommended for shrubs and trees. The depth matters; it’s better to apply a thick layer of mulch to a small area than to apply a thin layer everywhere. A thin layer won’t suppress weeds or insulate the soil, so it’s kind of pointless.
Say no to mulch volcanoes! Spread mulch around trees and shrubs, but not right up to the trunk of the tree or shrub. It’s important to keep the root zone around the tree well covered, but never pile mulch up around the trunk of a plant or tree. Look for the ‘flare’ of the tree trunk to be your guide. Mulch volcanoes around your tree create the perfect environment for rot to set in on the trunk of your tree, which will weaken your tree and could allow disease and pests easy access to infecting or infesting your tree.
At Dammann’s Garden Co., we stock a wide variety of mulches, bagged or in bulk. We also have a handy mulch calculator to help you determine how much you need for the space you’re trying to cover.
Ready to get mulching? Stop by the garden center, and we’ll get you set up with everything you need to add this beneficial element to your yard and garden.