We Got Mulch!
Mulch is good for your plants and a great labor saver. It reduces evaporation, slows weed growth, improves soil quality, and makes your gardens look more attractive. And more, it's inexpensive and easy to apply.
How mulching is done?
Applying Mulch - Spread mulch under trees, shrubs, and throughout planting beds to a recommended depth of 3-4 inches for medium to coarsetextured materials. Pull mulch away from the bases of tree and shrub trunks creating a donut-hole. Do not pile it up against the trunk (“volcano mulching”).
What is the purpose of using mulch?
Mulch (such as bucketful, above, about to be spread) serves several purposes. It will not just suppress weeds and slow moisture evaporation, but should also break down into the underlying soil gradually and thereby improve the soil's texture. A layer of mulch helps moderate soil temperatures.
Why do you put mulch around trees?
Mulch is a valuable for your trees health and care because. Mulch insulates the soil helping to provide a buffer from heat and cold temperatures. Mulch retains water helping to keep the roots moist. Mulch keeps weeds out to help prevent root competition.
How thick should a layer of mulch be?
A layer of mulch 3 to 4 in. deep will keep most weed seeds in the soil from sprouting and increase moisture retention. However, more isn't always better. Limit the depth to 5 to 6 in., especially around shallow-rooted plants.
In most cases, mulch greatly simplifies your gardening chores. Mulch includes a variety of materials that you use to cover the bare soil in your gardens. Most often you think of it as organic materials such as wood chips, cedar bark and compost, but it also includes materials like stone and gravel. Adding a layer of mulch pays off by:
* Reducing water loss from the soil. It slows evaporation and improves water absorption when it rains or when you turn on the sprinkler.
* Slowing weed growth.
* Improving soil quality. Organic types enrich the soil as they decompose.
* Protecting plant roots from hot and cold temperature extremes and sudden fluctuations.
* Adding color and texture as part of your overall garden design.
Whether you're an ardent gardener or a casual one, you'll have less watering, weeding, fertilizing and general maintenance.
You'll find a variety of mulches at your local Ace Hardware. But no one type of mulch does it all.
Use an aged organic mulch (partially decomposed wood products) to improve the soil and encourage all-around plant growth. It will continue to decompose and add nutrients to the soil.
Use fresh organic mulch (wood chips and bark) where you want to control weeds and improve appearance, but where soil improvement isn't needed, such as around trees and shrubs. While organic, it hasn't begun to decompose and will last longer than aged mulch. It'll also enrich the soil as it decomposes.
Use stone to stabilize garden areas vulnerable to washout, for example, on hills and around downspouts. Or use it to improve the appearance of your garden.
Will mulch stop weeds?
Mulch won't stop weeds completely. Applied deep enough, it will prevent many weed seeds already in the soil from germinating and growing. But it won't stop weeds that have already rooted. Tough weeds like dandelions will push right through if you don't dig them out first. And more weed seeds will blow in and take root in the mulch (in both organic and stone). All mulch-covered gardens require maintenance, though less than if you don't use mulch.
Should you use landscape fabric under mulch?
Use fabric only under stones and gravel. It'll keep the rocks from sinking into the soil and make removal much easier if you want to change it later. The fabric will also slow down weeds that have rooted in the soil. Choose a fabric that allows water and air to pass through. Avoid using impermeable plastic, especially if you have trees, shrubs or other plants nearby.
Unfortunately, landscape fabric also makes weeding extremely difficult; you can't get a shovel down through the rock and fabric. And it's tough to pull weeds that root into the fabric.
Don't use fabric under organic mulches. It's better to let them decompose and mix into the soil.
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