Types of Mulch:
Natural mulches (Organic Mulches), such as shredded bark or wood chips, are the easiest to apply and to work with. For instance, natural mulches improve the quality of the soil when making new flower beds or transplanting. Inorganic mulches, such as pea gravel, rock or other gravels, are heavy and difficult to work with and do absolutley nothing to improve the quality of the soil.
When buying Mulch… be sure to request Shredded “Bark” Mulch. You do not want mulch that has been made using stumps and sticks and other debris as this may lead to fungus and other diseases for your plants. There is a reason that that stuff is dead. The rule of thumb is… If the mulch stinks…don’t buy it. A good quality Bark mulch smells like wood not manure. They don’t add manure to any mulch so it shouldn’t smell like it.
Benefits of mulch
- Maintains soil moisture. Mulch reduces moisture evaporation from the soil and reduces the need for extra watering.
- Improves soil structure. As the mulch breaks down, nutrients and organic matter are added to the soil.
- Moderates soil temperatures, which protects plant roots from hot and cold temperatures.
- Helps control weeds by reducing seed germination and smothering seedlings to keep them from growing.
When spreading mulch, keep these points in mind:
- Don’t apply more than 3 inches of mulch. Thick layers of mulch may encourage roots to develop and grow along the soil surface rather than below.
- Never allow the mulch to touch the base of plants or the bark of trees and shrubs. When mulch touches trees or shrubs, it keeps the bark moist, which invites insects and disease. When it touches perennials or annuals, it can cause them to rot or rob them of nitrogen, causing them to turn yellow.
