Using Mulch to Control Weeds in Your Garden

If you're planning on starting a garden, then you may want to read a little about mulching to control weeds. This article will cover many of the advantages of mulching your garden, and is intended to assist you in your future gardening, or planting efforts. To get right into it, there are good ways and reasons to mulch and there are bad ways. These bad ways can sometimes lead to the death of your beloved trees, flowers, and other plants.

What is mulching?

Mulching is the act of placing material be it organic, or synthetic atop your ground. This material prevents plants from sprouting up out of the ground. Mulching can be used to prevent growth around a sidewalk, near your patio deck, in your garden, or around your child's sandbox. The most common use of mulching is mulching to control weeds.

How mulching works.

Mulching your garden allows your flowers, and other plants to grow more efficiently. By preventing the weeds from taking the nutrients your plants need to survive, your plants may grow bigger and become more healthy. Mulching can also prevent the evaporation of water, and mulching is only effective if properly used.

Mulching proper application.

Mulching your garden isn't as easy as the common home owner may think, there are factors to consider before you begin to mulch that garden of yours. Plants you want to grow will need to be exposed to sunlight, and moisture. You should keep a wide area open, or exposed around the plants you want to keep. Mulching before weeding your garden may prove to be ineffective, this will allow the weeds to continue to grow above the mulching. this would defeat the purpose of mulching, making your efforts in vain.

Control weeds with mulch.

Weeds growing in your garden need the same sunlight, water, and nutrients, as the rest of your plants. Placing a mulch cover over areas where you don't want weeds or other plants growing is a great way to prevent infestation of weeds.

Kinds of mulch.

There are many kinds of mulch which include both organic, and synthetic mulches. Some of the organic mulches are composed of twigs branches, and leafs. Other organic mulches may be composed of bark. Synthetic mulches can be composed of rubber, vinyl, plastic, or any other material which does not provide nutrients for plant life.

Which mulch is better?

While both types of mulch are effective, you may find that you have a preference for one or the other. One of the ways to tell which type of mulch suites you better is considering your gardens future.

Synthetic mulch, if your garden is a long life garden, and will be growing year round or will grow back each year, then you may want to use a synthetic mulch. Synthetic mulch prevents weeds year round. Synthetic mulches do not rot, but neither does a synthetic mulch provide nutrients to the ground.

Organic mulch, if you plan to have a once a year garden that is not likely to grow back each year. Then an organic mulch may be better for you. The organic mulch will provide the garden with additional nutrients year round. The bad thing about organic mulch is that since it deteriorates, you need to keep it a safe distance from your plants roots, and your home. This type of mulch attracts bugs and termites especially which may cause damage to your house, or trees if placed to close to them.

Types of mulch sold on line, and where to order them.

Organic mulch.

Ohio Mulch, this mulch is derived from tree bark nuggets and can provide a nice texture for your garden. However, it needs to be kept at least two feet from your house to prevent termite infestations and should be changed out yearly or bi yearly.

Green Country Soil Cocoa Brown Mulch, this type of mulch can be purchased from Ron's home and hardware on line and has a dark chocolate color to it.

Synthetic mulch.

Rubberific Rubber Mulch, this mulch has the appearance of decayed pine needles and as the name suggests it is made from rubber. Rubberific Rubber Mulch can be purchased at nearly any Ace Hardware.

Generic brown rubber mulch, this mulch can be found at nearly any seller on line finding a dealer of this mulch is as easy as a Google search.

Mulching summary,

When using mulch to prevent weeds from infesting your garden, you want to place the mulch around every plant you want to keep. Placing the mulch too close or covering your plants, especially small flowers will actually serve to prevent them from growing back the next year. Keeping a wide area around your plants exposed will give them plenty of nutrients and sunlight. Mulching to control weeds can be an effective strategy, but it can also become time consuming and if not done properly could harm your plants more then it assists them.

Disclaimer,
I do not personally endorse any mulch product listed here, the mulch products listed here are simply for your convenience and nothing more.