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Applying mulch in the garden can achieve a pleasing result. It is a simple thing that can be done; but be aware that using the wrong sort of materials can do more harm than good.
When mulching planting areas keep in mind that there is reason, aside from aesthetics, for doing it. One reason, and perhaps the most important one is moisture regulation. When the sun beats down on the soil it evaporates the water within it, thus causing moisture loss, thus resulting in the need for additional watering…ergo, the loss of efficient watering.
Regulating soil temperature is another crucial function of mulching. In the same way that it can help to regulate moisture, it can help maintain a more consistent temperature. After all, plants are like us in so many ways; they breathe, they can drown, and they can freeze and burn to death.
Mulching can help keep those weeds in check, too. Because mulch is typically applied about two and a half inches thick, the germinating weeds cannot breathe well, and they haven’t much sunlight to fulfill the process of “Photosynthesis”, which is needed for life. The ones that do manage to pop up from beneath the mulch are weak, and can be easily lifted out.
Finally, mulching is a great way to feed your plants continually. As the mulch breaks down, be it bark or an organic mix of some sort, it releases—among other things—Nitrogen, which is essential for oxygen production absorption.
There are, as previously mentioned, several materials that can be used; some of which should not be used around the plants. There is, of course, bark. Bark mulch comes in many forms; large chips, small chips, a size in between the two, shredded, “walk-on”, gorilla-hair, even recycled. And many of these mulches can be dyed. Though, a word from the wise; dyes can be an awful mess. The black in particular leaves behind a deep purplish stain for days on the skin. The color can also run when saturated with water, and all of them fade rather fast.
One can also use glass mulch, rock or compost. Among the three of these, compost is the best for large areas. Bark mulch is still the most effective material; however, compost is used more commonly in areas planted from groundcover flats and for plant types that spread along the soil’s surface. While glass and rock can be a lovely texture contrast and each can add a great deal of interest to the garden, neither of them benefits your plants the way that bark and compost do. In fact, they can cause a good deal more harm to your plants. Rock and glass heat up and each can become very cold. Such temperature variations can cause your plants to become stressed and this can lead to poor performance or death. Did you know that soil contains friendly microorganisms? Extreme changes in temperatures can kill these little helpers. If you choose to mulch with glass or rock, put it in places without plants, around drain grates, beneath hosebibs, near the base of the house, etc.
Check with a local landscape material supplier to see what is available in your area.
The world is your garden; grow with it.
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