Making the Most of Mulch

John C. Fech answers frequently asked questions on mulch types and time of application

For many gardener , applying mulch is standard procedure , like brushing your teeth . But before you toss barque nugget to and fro , survey your landscape painting to shape what kind of mulch and how much of it you postulate . Whether you require to mulch a flower border , a strawberry patch , or a vegetable garden , mulch allow wet retentivity , weed suppression , cooling or thawing of the soil , and , of course , a pleasing appearance . Knowing when and how to use mulch , as well as picking the best product for each post is your challenge as a nurseryman . All in all , using mulch is one of the good things you can do to help your garden boom . Here are some usually involve questions that can facilitate you make the most of mulch .

Q. Is there any mulch to avoid?A.Don’t use green goddess press cutting from a lawn that has been treated with a broadleaf herbicide in the past three to four weeks . Also , drinking chocolate Hull , like chocolate , comprise a chemical compound that can be toxic to dogs if ingested .

Q. Should I choose an aged mulch?A.Aged mulch wo n’t soak the ground of N as much as novel mulch because it ’s already starting to decompose . ripened mulch is better for young plants that are just establishing their solution systems , as these plants incline to require more nutrients than established ones . Aged mulch , however , will only last half as long as newly chipped mulch . you could ordinarily recount the difference between older and Modern mulch by sense and feeling the mulch . age mulch smells and feels like young compost , emit a pleasant , earthy aroma . Aged mulch unremarkably contains softened , crumble piece of wood .

Q. Does it weigh if I apply softwood or hardwood?A.Hardwood mulch from trees such as oak tree , black locust tree , hickory , and hackberry run to last a petty longer than softwood micro chip from silver maple , willow , and honey locust . But mostly this choice is about color , texture , and aesthetic appeal . evergreen plant chips smack great , especially in the first few weeks after software .

Q. What about using pine needle or leave from deciduous trees?A.These materials make secure mulch , particularly if leaves are shredded first . In fact , leaf mold ( shred tree leave ) is an excellent accession to the grime . Both pine acerate leaf and deciduous leaves can be used for a time of year , then rake aside and placed on a compost plenty . you may also leave them in place to slowly molder , while tot up another bed on top of the old batch .

Q. How deeply should I apply the mulch?A.For vegetable garden , an in of dried weed clippings , chaff , chop corncob , or shredded newspaper works smashing . Annuals and perennial mature honorable with a twosome of inch of wood bit on the ground , and trees and bush would be well suitable with a 2- to 3 - inch - deep stratum of mulch . With any planting , make indisputable the mulch is placed between the plants and not on top of the crown or crusade against the tree automobile trunk . Also , keep mulch 12 inch from the foundation of the house to keep louse from migrating from mulch to house .

Q. When should I apply mulch?A.Because its chief purpose are to cool the soil , suppress weeds , and retain soil moisture , mulch is best applied in other summer . Applications made too ahead of time in spring postponement root elaboration of newly installed perennials and annuals .

Q. Should I be conservative of using mulch from a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree or lawn that was diseased?A.No . Most flora morbific diseases are specific to the plant they infest . Mulch from a poplar tree infect with cytospora canker is unlikely to induce a similar disease on dogwood tree or coral Bell . Grass trimming from a lawn infect with rhizoctonia brown patch will not make problems if scattered among bell common pepper .

Q. Is dye mulch all right to use?A.Some of the colors are outrageous — galvanizing blue , pinkish , gold — but the dyestuff used is relatively safe . There are no significant risks to pets or the surround .

Types of mulch

From pasturage clippings to rescued rubber , mulch derive in a bit of pick . Many are sold in bulk at large garden centers . In general , most experient plantsman and arborists balk at the whimsey of using nonplant by - product mulch — except as a last resort . Yet each mulch case has its topographic point .

Wood chips

Wood chips are a large all - determination material . They include both hard- and softwood , and fare in size of it ranging from nugget to large pieces . Most are sold as generic mixes , but long suit chips are useable .

Stone and rock

Stone is typically unruffled and oval , while rock is usually angular . Both depend great , and wo n’t degrade or waste away . Using either , however , can stress plants because of the tendency of rock or stone to engage and hold heat .

Pine needles

Pine needle are a pleasant - smelling , right - looking mulch that breaks down slow . bet for nearby Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that exuviate needles with seasonal changes . Add a unexampled layer each twelvemonth or two to keep mulch layer deep .

Grass clippings

Grass clippings are great for vegetable and herbaceous plant garden . clipping will decompose over the summertime and can be tilled into the soil , increase constitutional subject for next plantings .

Dyed mulch

Dyed mulch is presently a popular choice , peculiarly in the colors of red and black . Beauty may be in the center of the beholder with the many colouring material choice of mulch , but none look harmful to pet .

FromFine Gardening#112

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