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“Mulch, Mulches, Mulching”

One of the most important part of gardening is
mulching. It keeps down weeds by blocking the light
that allows weeds to germinate. Mulch will slow down
the evaporation of moisture from the soil, which also
will keep the soil from drying out and creating a
crusty soil.

Earthworms love organic mulch, they eat the organic
matter and produce castings. When they move around in
the soil the tunnels they make aerates the soil and
improves the texture. Other organisms do the same. All
the work they do makes a nutrient-rich substance that
our plants need.

This process is actually decomposition, which adds
valuable organic humus to the soil.

Simple steps to mulching:

1. Distribute the mulch material to a depth of at least
3 to 5 inches. The more coarse the material, the more
you add.

2. Place the mulch between and around the plants, but
allow the immediate area around the base of the stems
of annuals and perennials to be free of it.

3. Moisten the mulch.

When mulching trees and shrubs, keep the mulch
approximately 5 – 10 inches from the base of the tree.
Over time mulch on trunks, even with organic matter too
close to the trunk of the plant, will cause many
problems down the road.

The wood mulch keeps the soil cool and maintains an
even soil temperature. If bark chips and sawdust are
used they may delete nitrogen from the soil when they
decompose, so add some nitrogen to the soil first
before and then after laying down such mulches.

Look at organic wastes like shredded tree barks or
light pruning, seasoned sawdust, wood shavings, peanut
shells, cocoa bean hulls, rice husks, ground corn cobs,
grass clippings, unused vegetable waste and seaweed.

Black Plastic Sheets
If organic methods are not your style then take a look
at black plastic sheets that are used for mulching the
soil. It affords excellent weed control and moisture
conservation, if done properly.

Lay the plastic mulch on top of the soil or beds
beforehand, then cut x-shaped slits in the plastic and
then just fold back underneath the flaps to plant. When
performing this method make sure not to completely fill
the hole in the plastic with the plant even when
mature.

Place holes or slits on the sides around the plastic to
allow the passage of water and air for the benefit of
the roots. The extra slits are crucial when using
plastic to allow excess moisture to drain and prevent
water-logging, which can happen on wet days.

Compost
When we speak of mulching we often mean using a layer
of organic material on the surface of the soil, from
dried lawn clippings to strips of newspapers. As time
goes by this organic material decomposes because of the
various agents present in the soil and will yield the
all-important humus matter.

If you plan on using animal manure, which is a
nutrient-rich mulch, it should be combined with other
material like lawn clippings or straw. Make sure this
mixture is well rotted and then it will provide much
needed nitrogen to the soil.

Compost or compost mixed with a rough mulch (called
living mulch) is an excellent pick for mulching your
soil or beds. Compost is the best form of mulch.

Mulch-mowing Method
Mulch-mowing is a simple method of using fallen leaves.
A good sharp mulcher blade on a lawn mower will be the
best mulcher you can find. It will cut the grass blades
into tiny pieces and at the same time, using the
shredded leaves, produce a rougher textured mulch to
cover the soil.

Use this method every week to get the maximum benefit
of the mulch on the ground. This will keep the chore
easier to handle every week and provide a fresh supply
of mulch to start decomposing and forming new organic
matter to feed the soil and keep moisture.

With mulch-mowing it keeps fewer leaves on the street
that clog the drain system and from causing other
hazards for the community.

Whatever you do, mulch is a critical part of gardening
and lawn maintenance. You never know when there will be
a lack of rain or too much of it, a freeze comes along,
lack of nutrients needed for the plant. If you mulch
properly then you are prepared for the unexpected. Back
to the basics.

This article on Mulch is brought to you by www.backyard-gardening.com