Mulch Facts
Need help determining what mulch to use? Here are some Mulch Facts that should help you make a decision.
Feeding the soil well is one of the most crucial ways to grow a beautiful, healthy garden. Among the most important ingredients that gardeners must use to make their garden soil and plants healthy is mulch.
Mulch is a thick blanket of natural materials spread over garden soil to keep it healthy. Clippings, hay, straw, and even damp newspapers are some of the materials that gardeners use as mulch.
Some Mulching Tips
- Remove any weeds, grass and dead plants from the garden bed before mulching.
- Before applying a mulch layer, put in new plants.
- Although mulch can be applied at any time of the year, it is best applied in early summer or mid spring.
- Prior to choosing what type of mulch to use, take into account the origin of the native plant you are using. Rainforest plants, for instance, grow better with deep green organic mulch.
- Consider also how you’re going to water the plants before laying down the mulch. Drippers placed under the mulch work efficiently. Bear in mind that water applied over the mulch does not always get down to the soil.
- Avoid placing piles of mulch directly against the trunks and stems of plants because this can result in plant death.
Mulch Pros
Covering exposed soil with the right type of mulch is a safe and efficient way to control weeds. This will also reduce evaporation, leading to less watering. Mulch will keep the soil temperature warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Mulch also protects the surface of the soil from the compacting effects of rain. And what’s more, it enhances the aesthetic appeal of the garden beds.
By using organic mulch, the soil can benefit from the added nutrients as the mulch starts to decompose. In turn, this helps create excellent soil structure by boosting the biological activity within the soil.
Mulch Cons
Before applying mulch, the soil must be damp or wet. When the mulch material used is very effective, it can insulate the soil completely; thereby, moisture penetration is prevented.
The use of green, fresh organic material can deplete the soil’s nitrogen supplies because decomposition uses up nitrogen. Adding extra nitrogen becomes a necessity to compensate for this. In doing so, nitrogen must be applied prior to spreading the mulch.
Finally, paper placed under mulch to suppress the growth of weeds can attract nematodes and be colonised by termites.
When mulch is incorrectly used, all gardening efforts can fail. Also, this can inflict environmental damage as it promotes pest proliferation and spreads diseases. So for all your gardening needs, seek expert help if you must. Call Jim’s Mowing New Zealand on 0800 454 654 or book online.
Organic Mulch Vs. Inorganic Mulch
Homeowners who engage in gardening can keep plants healthy through mulching. However, it’s best not to wait for summer to get started.
Mulching protects and improves the soil. Also, it reduces moisture loss, preventing the soil surface from drying out and cracking. Mulching is also efficient at suppressing weed growth and reducing competition for nutrients and water. Most importantly, mulching minimises run-off and soil movement from garden beds.
Organic Mulch
Mulches derived from organic materials like wood chips, straws and pine barks are considered organic. Recycled green waste can also be used.
The lifespan of a chip or bark mulch will greatly depend on the size of the particles. Those with smaller particles will break down immediately, putting nutrients back into the soil in just a short period of time. Those with larger particles, on the other hand, will take several years to break down.
When buying organic mulch, make sure to find out where it came from and the possible damage it may cause once you remove it from the environment. Pine barks are considered more sustainable than those derived from hardwoods like red gum chips.
When creating mulch on site is not possible, opt for recycled mulch. This is derived from the materials that end up into the green waste bins. These materials are then processed by a composting system that will destroy any weed seeds that the material has. The end product is a mulch with excellent weed-suppressing, soil-improving, and water-holding capabilities, making it very ideal for all garden styles.
Inorganic Mulch
The use of inorganic mulch is increasing. An inorganic mulch is derived from recycled glass, rubber, and stone. It is available in different sizes, colours and styles. It is well-suited to contemporary garden designs since it is a decorative mulch. It is the best choice for bushfire zones since it does not burn.
Be cautious, however, in using inorganic mulches because if you are not satisfied with your choice, you might end up forever picking out the light-coloured pebbles or glass that seemed like a great idea at the time.
How to Mulch
- Remove weeds
- Thoroughly moisten the soil by making sure that the water penetrates well.
- If you choose to use bark-based mulches, sprinkle some blood and bone over the soil. This will provide extra nitrogen because the gradual decomposition of the mulch might take up nitrogen.
- Lay the mulch thickly. The area around the plants must be free of mulch.
- To ensure that water does not run off the surface, sprinkle soil-wetting agents.
Selecting the right type of mulch will greatly depend on which will best suit your garden needs. Looking into the specific characteristics of each mulch type is a must. For more garden and landscaping tips, tune in for more Jim’s Mowing NZ blogs.
Should I Remove Old Mulch?
Mulching is an essential practice in gardening or agriculture. Here, organic materials such as hay, straw, leaves, sawdust, well-rotted manure, or other soft substances are used to cover the ground for the purpose of retaining soil moisture and protecting plant roots from excessive heat or cold. Other materials that may be used as mulches include weed-free lawn or hedge clippings, pulverised peat moss, buckwheat hulls, and wood chips.
Whatever material you use as mulch, the ground should first be thoroughly cultivated and watered. The mulch should then be applied loosely so that circulation of air into the soil is not prevented.
When organic materials are used as mulch, the soil condition may also be improved. Mulching acts to hold down weed growth. And if neatly applied, it can improve the appearance of your garden. Timing also plays a crucial role when applying mulch. Spring is the perfect time to mulch. Make sure the soil is warm enough to prevent delay and plant growth retardation.
The question is, should you remove the old mulch or simply add to it?
Old mulch refers to a mulch that is still intact after a year has passed since it was applied. Remaining mulch from last year must not be removed. Why?
- The old much is full of essential Mulch continues to break down and this means it is still adding more organic matter and nutrients to the soil.
- It saves you time, money and effort. Removing mulch can be exhausting and time-consuming. It can also be costly since you have to apply more new mulch. With the old mulch, there is no need to do the tiring task of mulch removal. There is no need to buy a large amount of new mulch, too.
Should you touch the old mulch before adding the new layer or not?
The answer is indefinite. You can cultivate the existing mulch before adding the new layer, provided that there is no sign of any fungal disease. Cultivating helps loosen the mulch and allows rain to get into the soil.
If fungal disease is present, then it is better to keep the existing mulch untouched. Just cover it with a new layer of mulch.
Depending on how much is needed for a new mulch, old mulch must never be removed. Just add the new layer on top.
How much new mulch should you add?
Generally speaking, you should renew the mulch to keep a layer 50 to 100mm from the soil surface. However, adding about 25mm of new mulch to existing one is enough.
For shrub beds or trees, maintain 76mm of mulch. For flower beds, 25 to 38mm of mulch will do. It is quite excessive to add mulch that is 50mm thick.
Mulching must be done with care. Otherwise, it might damage your plants instead of helping them grow. For more garden and landscaping tips, tune in for more Jim’s Mowing NZ blogs.
FAQs About Mulches
Plants need all the right nutrients they can get to grow well and flourish. Although the soil provides them most of these, there are other ways that you can help them to thrive better. One of these ways is through mulching.
To understand what mulch is, here are some FAQs about them along with the answers:
Q. What is mulch?
A. Mulch is a layer of natural material applied on top of the soil that helps conserve moisture, adds nutrients to the topsoil, and protects the soil against extremes of climate. The shade provided by mulch helps lessen evaporation and lower the need for watering during summer. Mulch also keeps the soil cool so that earthworms and other micro-organisms remain active near the surface, allowing them to do their work. It also prevents the growth of weeds and reduces the need for cultivation since it thwarts soil crusts from forming.
Q. What are different types of mulch?
A. There are three main types of mulches: feeding, woody, and permanent.
Feeding mulches break down rapidly to feed the soil; as such, they need topping up repeatedly. They are ideal for fruit trees, vegetable gardens, and flowering plants. Examples of feeding mulches are pea straw, lupin, and Lucerne.
Woody mulches are basically wood chips. They are best suited for hardy plants such as trees and shrubs.
Permanent mulches are typically used for landscaping effects. The usual materials for this type of mulch include pebbles, crushed brick, and stone. They help hold moisture in the soil and are recommended for plants that don’t drop many leaves, such as succulents.
Q. How can I choose which mulch is best to use?
A. Availability is usually the deciding factor that will enable you to select the best type of mulch. This is especially true if you want to make them yourself. If you want to buy them, the choice will usually depend on your personal preference. In general, fine mulches are more ideal for more formal gardens. For gardens that have numerous foliage plants and fewer flowering plants, colourful mulches are best since they offer a strong contrast to the foliage. Whatever you buy, make sure you choose one that is organic.
Q. When is the best time to mulch?
A. It is best to apply mulch at the end of winter or in the beginning of spring, when the ground is still reasonably moist and cool, and before summer unleashes its effects on your plants and garden.
Q. How deeply should I mulch my garden?
A. Experts recommend mulch to be applied to a depth of 100mm so that they can provide an effective weed-suppressing layer and help maximise moisture retention in the soil. However, remember to keep mulch a few centimetres away from the stems of your plants since if they are covered, they may rot.
Q. What is the best way to prepare the garden before applying mulch?
A. Before applying mulch, make sure your soil is healthy, has adequate compost and organic matter, and has enough fertiliser to allow the plants to grow. Also, water your garden well before application.
For more garden and landscaping tips, tune in for more Jim’s Mowing NZ blogs.
3 Myths About Mulches
Mulches are one of the most beneficial organic materials you can spread on your garden. Once applied, they will decay into organic matter — something that is essential to having healthy soil life and plant life.
Mulch also reduces the need for fertilisers and amendments and prevents the growth of weeds in your garden. It helps keep the soil evenly moist and protects the crowns of perennial plants from the harsh effects of winter. It also helps nurture the roots of trees and shrubs, prevents erosion, and keeps nutrients in place.
But even if mulches provide numerous benefits to plants and your garden soil, many people still have a lot of misconceptions about them. Here are the top five myths about mulches and the facts behind them:
- You can use pretty much anything as mulch.
Fact: Leaves, pine needles, grass clippings, straw, tree bark, and wood chips are just some of the most common items that can be used as mulch. However, you can’t just spread one or more of these items on your soil. The truth is, you will see great results when you select a specific type of mulch based on what’s been planted in your lawn. This is because different types of plants require different levels of alkalinity, water, and nutrients such as nitrogen and oxygen.
Below is a simple guide you can follow to correctly choose the right type of mulch to spread on your lawn:
- For vegetable gardens, use compost, grass clippings, shredded leaves and straw.
- For flowers and shrub beds, compost, fine tree bark, pine needles, and shredded leaves are more suitable.
- For trees and shrubs, mulch made from coarse tree bark is best.
- For plants that bear berries, use grass clippings and straw.
- Spreading excessive amounts of mulch is great for your soil and plants.
Fact: Many people think tall mulches mounded around trunks and stems of plants are good for them. Unfortunately, this isn’t true. Tall mounded mulches invite a host of problems. They can stimulate above-ground “hair roots” on the trunk — something that isn’t good for the tree. They will also attract insects and rodents which may infest or gnaw trunks, which can then lead to the death of the plant. It can cause bark decay as well. The best way to mulch a tree or shrub is in a donut shape.
- Because of mulch, all the plants will grow and flourish faster even without extra care.
Mulch provide a lot of nutrients to your plants. However, they won’t grow on their own simply because they are covered with mulch. They will still need regular watering. In addition, they will also require compost and fertilisers from time to time. You will also have to remove weeds immediately if they come up. Remember to protect your plants from pests as well.
Due to the several benefits they provide to plants, mulches are gardening supplies that you should always have at hand. For more garden and landscaping tips, tune in for more Jim’s Mowing NZ blogs.
Which Mulch Should I Use?
Lucerne Hay
Mulching is one major activity you should always do regularly. Mulches are like blankets covering exposed soil using natural materials like hay, straw, clippings, wood chips, and newspapers to protect soil structure, stabilise soil temperature, and prevent erosion or runoff. As mulch breaks down, it feeds the soil with essential nutrients.
There are many kinds of organic mulch you can use. Choosing which one to use can be a dilemma because they all seem to be good for your garden. However, this is not always the case. Some kinds of mulch may not be suitable for the plants in your garden. Some may be robbing the soil of nutrients and causing your plant to weaken. Some others may even kill your plants.
Pea Straw
For all these reasons, it is vital to choose which mulch is the most suitable for both the plants and the soil in your outdoor space.
For almost any kind of plant, lucerne hay (also called Alfalfa) is the best pick. It is universal in terms of usage and availability in Australia. You can find it almost anywhere, from stock feed suppliers to gardening retailers. Lucerne hay mulch significantly fertilises the soil as it rots within six months and remarkably promotes plant growth due to its rich nitrogen content. This also makes lucerne more suitable if you have a fruit and vegetable garden.
For vegetable patches that need regular maintenance, the best suited mulch is the pea straw. Like lucerne, it is also very rich in nitrogen. However, it breaks down into the soil more quickly, within three to six months. It minimises the growth of unwanted plants like weeds. Its light colour also makes it extra special
Sugar Cane Mulch
in keeping the soil cooler, most especially in the summer months, therefore reducing evaporation more effectively as compared to darker-coloured mulches.
Another mulch you can use for vegetable patches is the sugarcane mulch. While this kind of mulch is not a good source of nutrients for plant growth, it is the best for immediate soil improvement.
More established plants such as trees and shrubs need mulch that are long-lasting. Wood chips and bark mulches are generally good for them. Softwood trees like pine barks last for about two years. Hardwood trees like eucalypts can last up to five years.
Bark Mulch
One important thing to remember when using wood chips and bark mulches is to never use them fresh or you’ll end up dealing with a “nitrogen draw down.” Fresh wood chips and barks will need nitrogen from the soil in order to break down. This will eventually make the plant unhealthy with yellowish leaves, a sure sign of nitrogen deficiency.
In a nutshell, good mulch does not necessarily mean that it is the best. Find out which mulch works well with your kind of plants. Growing a healthy garden requires taking great care not only of the plants, but also and most importantly, of the soil. With healthy garden soil, plants will easily grow and become beautiful parts of your lawn.
For more garden and landscaping tips, tune in for more Jim’s Mowing NZ blogs.
Learn The Basics Of Applying Mulch
You may have probably read or heard about the many benefits that mulch provides. Mulch is simply your garden’s best friend. Mulch controls weeds, retains soil moisture, regulates soil temperature, and gives nutrients to the soil. Mulch does all these and more.
As simple as mulching may seem, you do not just apply mulch on your garden plants, relax, and expect your plants to grow healthily. Choosing the type of mulch and how you apply it are equally important in ensuring that you are doing it correctly and not causing harm to your plants.
Choosing the correct mulch
Mulch is basically divided into organic and inorganic types. Organic mulch is made up of natural materials that decay over time. The best examples of organic mulch are autumn leaves, grass clippings, shredded barks, and wood. It is easy to apply and is safe for both the plants and the soil.
Inorganic mulch, on the other hand, is made up of small stones, river rocks, crushed gravel and granite. Not all plants benefit from this type of mulch because they do not really give any nutrients.
When to apply mulch
There is really no exact time to apply mulch. It can be done anytime, but is most ideal when applied before the dry season.
Basic guidelines when applying mulch
- Before you apply mulch, it would be more beneficial to remove weeds first. Pull out weeds as you see them. When you cannot remove weeds, the next best thing to do is to cut off their heads.
- Apply just the right amount of mulch. It should be thick enough to stop sunlight from penetrating but not too thick to harbour pests.
- Do not pile mulch against the stem of plants of trunk of trees. This can attract pests and cause diseases, as well as cause the plant to rot and die. Leave a little space for your plants to breathe.
- Refresh organic mulch at least once every year. Dig the mulch into the soil to allow it to complete its decomposition, then apply a new layer over the old one.
- For added weed control, putting down two to three layers of newspaper under the mulch will control and eliminate weeds. Make sure to punch holes on the newspaper and wet it before covering with mulch.
- Know your plants and choose the correct mulch. Most plants will require the organic mulch, but there are some that live with organic mulch.
- Finally, a proper mulching technique is essential for plants under stress or for newly planted ones.
For more garden and landscaping tips, tune in for more Jim’s Mowing NZ blogs.
