To Mulch or Not to Mulch

Having a beautiful flower garden can not only add value to your home, it can be a source of relaxation and delight. A simple way to keep your flowerbeds looking great is to use mulch. Here are some tips on using mulch in your garden.

Spreading a layer of mulch around your plants can be of great benefit. It will reduce the need for watering. Mulch helps greatly in the control of weeds. It will also moderate the temperature of the soil. The soil will be enriched and erosion will be cut down by a drastic amount. A layer of any type of mulch will improve the soil structure and keep the soil from splashing up onto the leaves and flowers when it rains. And, it just generally improves the look of any flowerbed or garden.

The most common material used for mulch is wood chips or shredded bark. It is easily obtained commercially. You can find it in bulk from tree trimming companies and these companies sometimes offer it free of charge just to get rid of it. But, there are other types of mulch that are beneficial to your plants, as well.

Cocoa hulls are attractive and easy to apply. It is possible that they will absorb more than 2 times their weight in water. This is very advantageous and reduces watering requirements. They also have a wonderful smell of chocolate when first applied.

Compost is a wonderful source of nutrients. You can even make your own. This makes it very inexpensive. It is also available commercially in bags. Compost makes a very attractive mulch if it has been shredded into an even texture.

The easiest material to obtain for mulch is grass clippings. Simply rake them up after your yard has been mowed and spread them around your plants. They are a wonderful source of nitrogen, which is needed by your flowers to be healthy. Be sure to keep the layer of clippings under 2 inches. If more than that is applied, the decomposition process will generate more heat than is healthy.

Leaves that have been gathered up in the fall are another cheap and easy source for mulch. The best and safest way to use leaves is to compost or shred them. Left as they are, it is very easy for them to mold and that can be harmful to your plants.

Another source of nutrients for your plants is manure. It must be aged for about 6 months before being used as mulch. If you do not do this, it will burn the plants. It can be bought from farms or in bags from a garden center. Be sure that it doesn't come in direct contact with plant stems, however.

Mulch can be applied any time of the year. The best time, however, is in the spring. This should be done after you have removed any mulch that was applied as protection for the winter months and the soil has warmed up.

Weeds should be removed before applying new layers of mulch. The soil should also be worked loose a bit. This will prevent the soil from forming a hard layer. This could prevent air and water from penetrating to where it is needed for your plants to be healthy.

Throughout the growing season, any mulch applied will begin decompose. When this happens, the layer of decomposed mulch should be worked into the top layer of soil. After this is accomplished, apply fresh mulch to keep it about 3 inches deep.

Whether you are using mulch for the nutrients or the aesthetic value, it is a quick easy way to dress up your flower beds. It makes weeding easier and you will have to water less frequently. So, mulch is an all around beneficial addition to any flower bed or garden.

-- "Rodale Organic Gardening Basics: Roses". 2000. Rodale, Inc. Pennsylvania, USA.