Mulching

Mulching will free you from worries about weeds and dirt on your produce.

Perhaps every owner of even the smallest garden thinks year after year about how to get rid of ubiquitous weeds.

They thrive even in places where nothing else grows.

There are many weed control products available on the market that will effectively eliminate them, but they are not very environmentally friendly.

Quite simply and without the use of chemicals, mulching can rid you of weeds.

You can choose the type of mulch according to your taste and the place of use.

You don't even have to limit yourself in colour and type of material. The easiest way is to mulch with dark fabric that can be disguised with pebbles or bark.

In this article you will read: general information about mulching, why mulching is used, types of mulch: woody, straw, gravel and pebbles, fabric and foil

The term mulching refers to a horticultural and agricultural method in which the area around plants is covered with material through which unwanted plants (weeds) cannot grow.

You have certainly come across the term mulching in connection with lawn maintenance. In this case, it involves working finely mown grass back into the lawn.

Woody mulch fits into any garden.

Why is mulching used?

There are several types of mulch, and it's always good to choose with regard to the specific purpose of use. What will be suitable as mulch under ornamental shrubs may not be very suitable as mulch for a bed.

Can you imagine a strawberry bed mulched with crushed bark or wood chips? So what mulches can you choose from and what purpose is each type of mulch suitable for?

The first reason was described above - weeds will not grow through quality mulch. However, that's not all. Properly chosen mulch on beds can protect fruits from dirt. Strawberries grown on dark fabric or on straw are proof of that.

Mulch also retains moisture and temperature for longer. In winter it protects plant roots from frost and in spring it prevents premature sprouting. As mulch decomposes, the soil is enriched with humus.

Microorganisms contained in the soil thrive better on mulched beds. Last but not least, mulching has an aesthetic significance. Mulch chosen in harmony with the surrounding landscape can only enhance the beauty of the garden.

Woody Mulches - Bark, Wood Chips, Sawdust

Woody mulches are a very popular mulching option. They are particularly useful around ornamental trees and shrubs.

The area around ornamental trees mulched with woody materials looks natural and has an organic appearance.

A huge advantage of mulching larger areas around ornamental trees is that you won't have to laboriously mow around each tree and shrub individually with your lawnmower.

You can buy woody mulches or make your own. The easiest homemade mulch to produce is wood chips, which you can create very easily from pruned branches using a chipper.

Sawdust or wood shavings are just as easy to obtain. Bark is more complicated - chopping sufficient quantities of bark into small pieces takes quite a bit of effort.

The advantage of woody mulches is their versatility, which can complement almost any ornamental planting.

Nowadays, it's no problem to purchase colored wood mulches.

A disadvantage of woody mulches is their gradual decomposition. Bark will last for several years in place, while sawdust will break down much sooner.

Woody mulches can harbor fungal disease spores, and poor-quality mulch may increase dust in the surrounding area.

When purchasing bark, be careful - avoid bark that is contaminated, moldy, or has a noticeably unpleasant odor.

Straw

Straw is mainly used for mulching beds, which are covered with straw in early spring so they are completely covered; after the season, the straw is dug in as fertilizer.

Straw is an inexpensive alternative for mulching beds and is suitable for plants that like plenty of moisture, as straw retains water well in the soil. Straw is used as bedding for strawberry plants to keep the fruit clean and prevent mold.

Gravel and Pebbles

Gravel and pebbles have the same applications as woody mulches. They are used for mulching areas around ornamental trees and shrubs, and for covering pathways.

The advantage of gravel and pebbles over bark is their permanence - they don't harbor diseases and pests. The variety of gravel and pebbles is extensive, both in terms of size and color.

The only disadvantage is the higher initial cost. Some people may not find stones aesthetically pleasing.

Textiles and Films

Textiles find their use both in the garden around ornamental trees and shrubs, as well as in beds. While in ornamental gardens, films and textiles are rather a base material under other types of mulches (wood chips or pebbles), in beds they are not covered with anything.

Textiles allow good water permeability while maintaining moisture and warmth, protecting the covered area from potential weed growth through the mulch. By placing dark textile under mulch, you will increase its lifespan (it decomposes more slowly and doesn't get worked into the soil).

Vegetables will be protected from dirt on dark mulching film. The dark colour attracts heat. The only disadvantage of dark textile may be its shorter lifespan and, with lower quality textiles, their tendency to tear.

Laying Textile

Laying textile is not complicated and really anyone can do it. When planting mature trees and shrubs, first plant the plants, then stretch the textile around them and cut openings as needed.

Planting small plants can also be done on laid textile. Arrange the plants on the textile, cut an x-shaped opening, dig a hole and plant the plant in it. To ensure the textile holds well, secure it to the ground with special pegs or cover the edges of the textile with soil.

Written by LenkaZ