The Mulch Page

Mulch protects plant's roots from extremes of heat and cold.

Mulch prevents crusting of the soil, which aids in water absorbtion, and helps prevent erosion.

Mulch reduces evaporation of moisture.

Mulch reduces weed germination.

If you use the right kind it looks really good.

What is Mulch?

For purely utilitarian purposes dried leaves or pine needles work fine.(be sure they are "aged") If you want looks too, DOUBLE HAMMERED HARDWOOD is the best mulch to use. It is made simply of aged, shredded hardwood. Contrary to what many think, it does NOT contain manure, or anything else, but wood. Thats why it has that great earthy, woody, smell. Processed Pine mulch is as good, but a bit more expensive. Many people prefer the smell of the pine.

Photo: THIS is a mulch pile!

If you want to make your own mulch be sure that the wood or other material is "aged". Otherwise, as it ages, it will rob your plants of valuable nitrogen. Fresh sawdust, for instance is NOT a good mulch.

If you are going to mulch more than a tiny space it is much cheaper to buy your mulch from a mulch yard than to buy it in bags at your local garden center.

How do I use it?

For beds that have not been mulched before (or in recent history) Evenly spread, about 3 inches over the entire bed area. Taper it down around the bases of your plants. If mulch is left around the base, it will soften the bark, and provide easy access for disease and insects.

For a proffessional look, use a flat spade to cut an "edge" around your bed before you mulch. This is like a lip or rim, 3-4 inches deep. This not only looks good but prevents your mulch from washing out of your beds.

After your initial mulching, Mulch your beds at least once a year. If done regularly, 1-2 inches each time should be sufficcient.

Now wasn't that easy?

If you are planting flowers or very small plants, mulch first, before planting, rather than trying to spread mulch around the small, young plants.

What about the red and gold mulch that's so popular at fast food places?

I refuse to call that mulch. It's made from shredded pallets, with stain added for color. It is cheaper than real mulch, & not good for your plants. Do you really want all those cars driving around your property looking for the "drive-thru" window?

What about those bark chips that I've seen?

The chips don't like to stay where you put them. They float away; get thrown by lawnmowers; and kids think they're toys.

What about puting plastic under my mulch to stop weeds?

NO!! Your plant's roots have to breathe! Plastic won't let them. Landscape fabrics are very little better.

Why do I see steam coming from mulch on a cold day?

As organic matter decomposes it produces heat. The inside of a pile of mulch is always warm, even if there's ice on the outside. When you stir up the pile, you'll see steam when the weather is cold. When mulching commercial buldings in the winter lots of people always ask about the steam, and are amazed by it rising from our truck and wheelbarrows full of mulch. Mulching is a great cold weather job because the mulch puts off heat. (That's why it protects your plants from the cold.)

Mulch is good for all your plants, but please don't plant flowers or other plants in mulch alone. The roots need soil. The mulch is only for a covering over the soil, it is not the same as, or a replacement for, soil.

What about Mulching Trees?

Make a level "ring" or circle, of mulch around the trunk no larger around than the top of the tree, smaller for large trees. Be sure not to mound the mulch around the trunk. Where the mulch touches the bark it will soften it, allowing easy entry for insects and disease. The ring should be 2-4 inches thick, no more. This is a "tree ring" it is NOT a good place to plant flowers.

A simple bed: Without mulch / With mulch See the Difference it makes?!

What about the Black Mulch?,=