Making the Most of Your Mulch

It's getting to be that time of year again - Gardening time!

My son was asking me about the purpose of mulch the other day, so I thought I'd sit down and write an article that would help people better understand some of the uses of mulch, as well as giving some examples of some of the more common varieties. You might be surprised at just how many options are available to the average gardener.

What is Mulch?

According to the "Oxford Dictionary," mulch is "a material (such as decaying leaves, bark, or compost) spread around or over a plant to enrich or insulate the soil." Considering that the word first cropped up during the 17th century, people have been mulching their gardens for quite some time! There's good reason for this - in fact, mulching is one of the best things that you can do for your garden, provided you do it correctly.

Depending on what kind of mulch you use, mulch can help to insulate and protect seeds and young plants as they grow. It can also help to heat the ground, which some plants require, particularly in cold climates. Additionally, mulching your garden can help provide a weed barrier, help retain moisture and can add vital nutrients to your soil. If you thought that mulch was just for decoration, keep on reading!

Some Different Kinds of Mulch Materials

There are a wide variety of materials that are used for mulches these days. Some are organic, while others are not. Some are more environmentally friendly and there are a few that, while still popular with the masses, I don't generally recommend. Here's a run-down on some of the more commonly used kinds of gardening mulch you may encounter:

Bark Mulch: If you're looking for an inexpensive kind of mulch, you should certainly look into the commonly-used bark mulches. Bark mulch is popular, not only because it's very low cost in comparison to other kinds of mulch, but it's also very durable and versatile. Bark mulches are excellent for decoration or borders, they help to retard the growth of weeds and grasses, and bark mulch provides a good insulation layer for plants during the winter.

Black Mulch: Black mulch is a form of mulch that is made from recycled plastic. Available for purchase through various gardening centers, stores or online, it is a commonly-used variety of mulch, particularly in cold-weather areas. Because of its color, black mulch absorbs sunlight and helps to warm the ground while providing a protective barrier between the ground and growing vegetables.

Cocoa Mulch: Cocoa or cocoa bean mulch was an extremely popular form of organic mulch until it was discovered that it contains Theobromine which, in some cases, has been linked to animal deaths. Due to the chocolately aroma of the cocoa shells, some pets find it irresistible and, if they consume enough, can poison themselves. While it's a great organic mulch, most people are in agreement that it's not a wise choice considering the dangers.

Dead Leaves: While dead leaves are another popular mulching material, I usually tend to advise against them for the novice gardener. Unless you break them down well, dead leaves can actually be more of a mess than a help to your garden. Rotting leaves smell and turn black, they can aid in the growth of mold, fungi and bacteria, and they can actually make your soil too hot. While dead leaves are abundant during the fall months, be sure you familiarize yourself with the benefits and risks of using leaves as mulch for your garden.

Grass Mulch: Some people swear by grass mulch but, to be honest, I'm not one of them. I tried using grass clippings to mulch my garden one year and with disastrous results - not only did it look horrible as it dried out, it also smelled bad, it clumped and molded in some areas and it didn't retain water like I'd hoped. While some people will sing the praises of using grass mulch, I'm not one of them.

Plastic Mulch: While there are other kinds of mulch that are made out of plastic, be careful when you go asking around about plastic mulch. In most cases, what is marketed as plastic mulch is usually different than what Joe Gardener imagines mulch to look like. Plastic mulch is usually a roll of plastic sheeting, which can then be unrolled in your garden and used to prevent weeds from cropping up while warming your soil and helping to conserve water (this is why you'll commonly find plastic mulch being used with drip irrigation systems). While the most common varieties are clear or black, plastic mulch can also be found in other colors as well. In fact, some studies suggest that different colored mulches might even enhance crop production. Do your cucumbers have good fashion sense?

Newspaper: This is one of my favorite gardening materials and for good reason. It used to be easy to get old newspapers but, even with more and more people turning towards the Internet for their news, you can still utilize the newspaper-like junk mail you receive from all the grocery stores. Newspaper is an excellent form of mulch because it retains water nicely, it can help slow the growth of weeds in your garden and it's fully biodegradable. Mind you, it won't add nutrients to your soil like some of the organic compounds, but you can usually apply your mulch savings into fertilizer money and still come out ahead.

Red Mulch: Red mulch is a popular form of mulch that is usually used to create decorative borders and walkways. While it can also be used as a common gardening mulch, it's not recommended for mulching around your vegetables because there is a substantial amount of bleeding from the red dye that's used to color red mulch. When it rains, this dye is washed off the mulch and into the soil, where it is then sucked up by thirsty plants. Unless you want to eat red dye for dinner, make sure you keep it away from the edible parts of your garden.

Rubber Mulch: Another mulch that is quickly catching on is the questionably eco-friendly rubber mulch. Made from recycled rubber, many green gardeners perk up at the idea of utilizing recycled things in their gardens but make sure you give this one a little thought before you jump to it. While recycled rubber mulch gets brownie points for recycling stuff, rather than just pitching it, also realize that rubber mulch does not disintegrate, dissolve or decompose in your garden. In fact, it stays there for years. This is part of its allure, undoubtedly, but it can also be some of its drawbacks. While it may work well for flowers, I don't know anyone who's hankering to nibble on some Brussels sprouts that spawned out of someone's old sneaker.

Straw: Perhaps one of the oldest and best kinds of mulch you can get is simple old straw. It's cheap to buy, it's organic and some kinds can even help replenish the ground with much-needed nitrogen. Straw is one of the best all-round forms of mulch you can buy though, admittedly, it's not the best prevention against weeds. Because straw can often have hay and other grasses mixed in with it, it's not uncommon for these other plants to take root in the insulated straw mulch and sprout up. One simply has to weigh the pros against the cons when buying straw mulch.

Wood: Another great organic mulch is mulch made out of wood. Wood mulch is not only organic, but it's also inexpensive. If you know someone with a wood chipper and you have some scrub you need to clear out, your cost is minimal. Even better, as it decomposes, wood mulch not only helps retain moisture and insulates the ground, but it also helps to replenish it, giving your plants healthier soil to grow in.

What Mulch is Right for You?

So what mulch is the best mulch? Truth be told, there really is no best mulch that soars above all the others. There are many factors to consider when choosing what kind of mulching material you want to use in your garden - cost, climate, soil quality and water availability, just to name a few. Different kinds of gardens have different needs, so you will want to choose your mulch accordingly. If you're still unsure, try asking the advice of local gardening department employees - quite often, they learn local favorites and are usually more familiar with what you will need, given your particular climate.

Sources:

Personal experience, as an avid gardener
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/view/entry/m_en_us1269762#m_en_us1269762 - "Oxford Dictionary" definition
http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/cocoamulch.asp - Great article weighing the pros and cons of cocoa mulch