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Give Your Bushes a Growth Spurt With Proper Mulching Techniques

Give Your Bushes a Growth Spurt With Proper Mulching Techniques

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So your yard has been looking lackluster lately, and you decided to do a quick mulching job? Great decision! Mulching is a simple yet super impactful practice. It doesn’t only elevate the aesthetics of your garden. It has many benefits as well.

Besides improving your garden beds’ visual appeal, mulching helps in moisture prevention, weed suppression, and soil insulation. Your garden will look pristine again, and your plants will definitely thank you for the extra care and nutrients.

You might think mulching around bushes and trees is a complicated technique if you’re not a seasoned gardener. But it’s actually an easy job that takes only a few minutes. In this guide, we’ll show you how to mulch around bushes. So let’s get started.

Why Do You Need to Mulch Around Bushes?

Some beginner gardeners neglect mulching around bushes and shrubs and focus on mulching the rest of their garden beds. But in fact, mulching around trees can do wonders for your trees, especially recently planted ones.

According to research from Kansas State University, applying a mulch ring around a recently planted tree (less than 10 years old) can almost double the tree’s growth rate. But how, exactly?

Mulching around trees mitigates competition from grass, which tends to absorb the essential nutrients and water required for the tree’s root development. That way, mulch can allocate enough resources for your trees and bushes to grow rapidly. The good news is that there are other benefits of mulching around bushes, too.

Conserving Moisture

When you apply a ring of mulch around bushes, it acts as a physical barrier, reducing water evaporation from the soil. This maintains a consistent moisture level around the bushes, especially during extended hot and dry periods.

Regulating Soil Temperature

Since mulch acts as a soil barrier, it can provide insulation for the soil, regulating temperature extremes.

So, for example, in hot weather, mulch protects soil from direct sun impact, which keeps the soil cooler. In winter and autumn, mulch provides a protective layer that protects the soil from extremely cold temperatures. The protective properties of mulch can be incredibly beneficial, especially for bushes with shallow roots.

According to the University of California, organic mulch can reduce water evaporation by around 35% and soil erosion by 86%.

Suppressing Weeds

Weeds don’t just ruin the visual appeal of your garden beds, but they also compete with trees and shrubs for resources such as water and nutrients.

Fortunately, mulching around your bushes can be a game-changer in terms of weed suppression. That’s because mulch blocks sunlight and prevents weed seeds from reaching the soil.

Providing Essential Nutrients For Trees

Mulching can help provide nutrients for your trees and bushes, especially if you use organic mulch. When organic mulch decomposes, it releases organic matter and nutrients such as potassium and nitrogen into the soil.

Not only that, but decomposition also enhances soil structure and promotes microbial activity. Over time, this improves the soil’s fertility, allowing your trees to grow better.

How to Mulch Around Trees and Bushes

Now that you know how your trees and bushes can benefit from mulch, it’s time to start your mulching project.

Remember that mulching incorrectly can do more harm than good, so it’s crucial to follow the next steps:

1 – Pick the Right Mulch Type

The first thing you need to do is to pick the suitable mulch type for your garden. There are endless types of mulch out there, but we can break them down into two types: organic and inorganic. Which is better, you wonder?

It depends on the area you want to mulch. Organic mulch materials, like wood, compost, bark, and leaves, decompose over time, releasing organic matter into the soil. They’re also easy to spread and do no harm if they’re mixed with the soil during activities like planting shrubs or annuals.

So, if you’re mulching around bushes, organic mulch is the best option. But keep in mind that organic mulch has a finite life span, so it needs periodic replenishment.

2 – Calculate How Much Mulch You Need

To calculate how much mulch you need to cover a specific area, you need to calculate the area in square footage first. If your area is square or rectangular, measure the length and width and multiply them to get the square footage. In case you have a circular area, measure from the center to the edge, and then multiply the result by Pi (3.14).

Next, decide how deep you want your mulch. Common depths range from 1 to 4 inches. We recommend you aim for 2 to 3 inches because anything thicker can harbor pests. Then, multiply your square footage by the depth.

Since most mulch products are sold in cubic yards, you need to convert your square footage to cubic yards by dividing the square footage by 324.

Here’s the final formula: Square footage x depth / 324 = cubic yards

3 – Clear the Area

Before applying mulch, make sure to clean the area by removing dried leaves, debris, old mulch, and sticks.

4 – Check Soil Condition

Check your soil’s condition before applying mulch, as you might need to water your beds. Even though mulch helps retain moisture, it’s always better to mulch over soil that has adequate moisture content.

5 – Apply the Mulch

Spread the mulch evenly and aim for a uniform layer of 2 to 3 inches thick. Be cautious not to pile much mulch against the stems and roots of your bushes. Leave a small gap around them to prevent issues like pests and rot.

Here are other helpful tips when applying mulch:

  • Lay down your mulch when most of your plants have started growing to avoid burying them.
  • Keep the mulch at least 3 inches away from the base of your plants and tree trunks to promote circulation.
  • When mulching a vegetable garden, don’t forget to mulch around plant bases to promote moisture retention.
  • Mulching in spring yields healthier soil, fewer weeds, and enhanced water retention throughout the growing season.

Final Thoughts

There you have it, everything you need to know about mulching around bushes. Mulching isn’t rocket science, but it can be a daunting project if you’re a beginner.

To make things much easier, make sure you pick the right mulch for your needs, keep the mulch a few inches away from your plants’ bases, and take your measurements accurately before purchasing mulch.

By following these few tips, you’ll be able to give your yard a fresh new look and help your trees thrive.

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