Mulch!

Mulch is a marvelous addition to planting areas. Gardeners rely on mulch to sup­press weeds and make garden beds look tidy. But mulch offers many additional benefits. It conserves moisture, keeps soil cooler, and reduces plant diseases. Over time, proper mulch­ing builds better soil by adding organic matter, reducing compaction, and preventing erosion.

Many types of mulch are available. Popular options include pine straw, pine bark, and hardwood bark. Pine straw is easy to transport, attractive, and stays in place fairly well. Although many people worry that pine straw will acidify their soil, it has little effect on soil pH. Pine bark mulches come in different sizes, from large nuggets to small chips. The drawback to pine-bark nugget mulch is its tendency to float, so don’t use it where water flows or ponds. Shredded hardwood mulch holds together well, making it a good choice in wet or windy locations.

Aim for three to four inches of organic mulch around trees and shrubs – too much mulch can reduce the amount of water that reaches the soil.  If depths are adequate but mulch looks weathered, rake it to loosen the surface and freshen its appearance.  Apply mulch evenly over the plant’s entire root system.  For trees and shrubs, this means out to the edge of the canopy.  Keeping mulch away from the trunk of trees and shrubs helps prevent insect and disease problems.  In landscape beds, mulch the entire bed evenly.    

Two to three inches of mulch will suppress weeds in most vegetable gardens.  Shredded leaves, clean straw, compost and shredded bark are all good options for vegetable gardens.  Mulch can be applies to vegetable gardens any time but the best time is late spring after the soil has warmed.  Applying mulch in early spring will delay soil warming and possibly plant growth.   

Organic mulches break down over time increasing soil organic matter, structure and water retention.  Avoid the use of landscape fabrics or weed barriers which prevent this movement of organic matter into the soil.