Mulch is any material added to the soil to enrich it and help it thrive, but is it good for gardens? What benefits does it have to offer?
The answer is yes! Applying the right type of mulch can benefit your garden and vegetation by controlling weed growth, maintaining moisture, and more.
This article provides an overview of the many benefits of mulching gardens. It lists the different types of mulch and their proper application.
Why Mulch a Garden?
Mulching your garden can be greatly beneficial, offering the following advantages:
1 – Controlling Temperature
Distinct types of mulch affect the soil’s temperature differently. However, mulch generally stands between the heat of the sun and the soil, which helps keep the roots cool and prevents rotting during hot spells.
Besides, mulch can protect the plant against freezing and thawing. It keeps the plant a little warmer than bare soil.
2 – Holding Moisture in Soil
Applying a layer of mulch over the soil can help prevent water loss. That way, your soil will retain moisture for long periods.
When you cover the soil with mulch, the water gets absorbed directly inside it instead of running off. In other words, mulch forms a protective layer that prevents the soil surface from crusting.
3 – Controlling Weed Growth
A layer of any mulching material helps control the growth of weeds because it prevents the sunlight from reaching the surface of the soil. Without enough sunlight, weeds won’t grow rapidly.
Mulching can give a more appealing appearance to your garden as it makes it more uniform and weed-free.
4 – Improves the Quality of Your Soil and Vegetation
Organic mulches can provide the soil with nutrients, which makes for healthier plants. These nutrients can also increase the fertility of the soil over time.
Generally, mulching improves the quality of your plants by providing nutrients to fertilize the soil, controlling the soil’s temperature, retaining moisture, and eliminating weeds.
5 – Protecting the Soil and Plants
Mulch is a protective layer that benefits both the soil and the plants. It prevents soil erosion and protects your vegetation against harsh weather conditions.
A layer of mulch can also protect the plants against fungal and bacterial disease by keeping them off the ground and preventing soil splashing.
What Are the Types of Mulch?
Typically, there are two types of mulches to choose from: organic and inorganic.
Organic Mulch
Organic mulch is a plant material that can provide the soil with nutrients as it decomposes. Types of organic mulch include:
Bark and Wood Chips
Bark and wood chips mulch is the most common type in vegetable gardens. It can enhance the soil and facilitate healthy growth.
The insects and earthworms in the soil break down the mulch’s organic matter and turn it into nutrients. The only drawback is that bark and wood chips need refilling from time to time.
Straw or Hay
Straw and hay are light materials that can decompose easily to enrich your soil. Add a layer of 2 or 3 inches to suppress the weed and retain the soil’s moisture.
On the flip side, this mulching material breaks down fast, which may leave your soil bare. Thus, you need to check your mulching every couple of weeks to make sure it’s of good depth.
Grass Clippings
If you opt for grass clippings to mulch your garden, use dry clippings. Adding a layer of green grass clippings to your soil will increase the temperature and emit odors over time.
On the other hand, dry grass clippings decompose fast and provide your plants with nitrogen. In any case, avoid clippings from grass treated with fertilizers or herbicides.
Leaves
Leaves are perhaps the most easily accessible type of mulch. You can add a 2 or 3-inch layer of foliage on your soil to control weeds.
As they decompose, leaves can enrich your soil with nutrients. We recommend mowing or shredding those leaves to help them decompose faster and remain in place longer.
Compost
Compost mulch is the decomposed organic material that comes from kitchen waste or rotten yard trash. It enriches the soil with the necessary nutrients for your plant’s healthy growth.
When rain or irrigation water hits the compost mulch, it releases nutrients into the soil. Over time, these nutrients can revive the soil and eliminate any toxins that prevent the proper growth of plants.
Pine Needles
Pine needles are the ideal mulching material for sloping gardens. That’s because they remain in place even under heavy rain. However, they’re typically slower to break down into the soil.
There’s a common misconception that mulching with pine needles increases the acidity of your soil. The truth is that pine needles are acidic but can’t affect the acidity of the soil.
Inorganic Mulch
In addition to the organic mulching material, you can also use some man-made elements to mulch your garden. This choice is ideal if you don’t want the added nutrients but care more about landscaping.
Newspapers
Newspapers can be the best inorganic mulching material. It decomposes over time and allows moisture to get to the plant. However, it doesn’t provide the soil with any nutrients.
You can water it or add a layer of soil or organic mulch on top to keep it in place.
Black Plastic
A layer of black plastic can help you get rid of weeds. However, it can raise the temperature of the soil. To reduce this heat, you can add a layer of organic mulch on top.
Landscape Fabric
If you cover your garden with gravel or rocks, apply a layer of landscape fabric underneath. It prevents the rocks from mixing with the soil and slows the growth of weeds.
Final Thoughts
So, is mulch good for gardens?
Yes, there are several benefits to mulching your garden. You can use organic or inorganic mulch, depending on your garden’s needs.
Mulching your garden can eliminate the growth of weeds, control the soil temperature, retain moisture, and keep your plant healthy during frost and hot spells. In addition, organic mulch provides your soil with nutrients and increases its fertility.
Whether you have a vegetable or a landscaped garden, the right mulch can have a significant impact on its health.
Ben has a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, you can find him at home with wife and two daughters. Outside of family, He loves grilling and barbequing on his Big Green Egg and Blackstone Griddle, as well as working on projects around the house.
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