Improving Your Garden with Basic Steps: The Benefits of Mulching

Many new gardeners shy away from using mulch in their gardens and on their plants. Usually, this is because they have heard mulching is "too much work" or "it smothers plants". Seasoned gardeners know, these are misconceptions, and using mulch is actually very beneficial to plants and gardens and the environment as well!

Contrary to some misconceptions, mulching can actually reduce the amount of labor needed to make your plants lush and your garden productive. A thick layer of mulch around a flower bed can actually slow the rate of weed growth. Fewer weeds means gardeners are much less likely to use an herbicide to make their gardens aesthetically pleasing. Fewer pesticides and herbicides, of course, mean a healthier and safer environment. Mulch can also deter some garden pests, such as feral cats, from digging in your gardening space.

Mulch comes in a variety of mixes - with many ingredients - and with some careful planning can be an interracial part of the gardens design. Believe it or not by carefully choosing the mulch components, mulch can be aesthetically pleasing!

Organic mulches, including wood chips, soil mixes and lawn cuttings actually help the plants they are place on. As the mulch decomposes, it breaks down and releases nutrients to nourish the soil and surrounding plants. Mulch also keeps soil from being depleted of vital nutrients, so gardeners do not have to rotate planting locations from year to year.

In the hot days of summer, using mulch can help keep the soil moist and at a lower temperature. This means, plants need less water and the gardener has less labor. Mulch also helps plant roots retain water to use in times of drought.

In regions which see a great deal of rainfall, a "crust" can form on soil. In areas of heavy "crusting", seeds can have trouble germinating and plants can have difficulty growing. Applying mulch can protect soil from "crusting" during times of heavy rain. This protection, in addition to supplying nutrients makes mulch very beneficial to all types of plants.

As beginning gardeners recognize the benefits of mulching, they should educate themselves about the appropriate amount of mulch to use on plants and in their gardens. Over mulching, can inhibit seed and plant growth, but under mulching does not let the benefits of the mulch reach the plants. Both over and under mulching can be a waste of time and money so be sure to do your research before you begin! Ideally, mulch should be approximately 3 inches thick and evenly spread around the area where the plants are located. (You will need to do this process every year!) While mulch is not expensive, check around your community - many community gardens and agriculture centers give mulch away free.

You can learn about mulching from a variety of sources. Almost every gardening book contains a section on mulching and there is a great deal of information about mulching on the web as well. Another place to learn about mulch (and meet new people) is to contact gardening clubs in your community and attend a few meetings.