Making mulch work in the landscape

July 20, 1:25 PMBackyard Living ExaminerJane Gates

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Tumbled glass mulch at the Taibi Residence (Photo by Jane Gates, Gardengates)

One of the best things you can do for your landscape is to use mulch. Mulching a landscape refers to covering exposed soil with inert materials. It can help plants grow, reduce weeding labor, save water and make a garden area look cleaner and more decorative.

By spreading a layer of mulch over bare soil you create a buffering layer. That layer will help insulate plant roots from radical temperature changes. It also keeps moisture from evaporating fast so you can reduce the water needs of your plants. That same buffer zone will make it harder for weeds to germinate. And a handscome mulch fills in empty spaces making the landscape more attractive.

There are many materials that work well as mulch. Bark chips are often used, though they can bleach badly in our hot sun, blow away in our winds and float off in heavy rain. On the plus side, they are quite long lasting, very inexpensive and eventually break down into a material that will nourish soil.

Stone in the form of gravel, river rock or chips is much more enduring and can create artistic designs, patterns and textures. Try to avoid black or dark stone if you are growing plants since the rock will get very hot in sunshine.

Shredded bark called ‘gorilla hair’ is one of the better choices for slopes since it tends to cling better than most other materials. Compost enriches our hungry soils as it melts into the ground. You can make your own for free by recycling kitchen and garden waste. The enriched soil will be helpful to all plants other than cacti and native plants. The downside is that it doesn’t last for long. And there are any number of other more creative materials that will make more interesting-looking mulches like crushed brick, seashells, tumbled glass, etc.

You can use just about anything that will make a permeable layer that stays in place over your soil. Just make sure your choice for mulch has nothing toxic in its composition and that air and water can penetrate it. A solid barrier will suffocate plants and make water wash away potentially causing erosion problems.

Most mulch is best applied at about 3” deep. Keep mulch away from stems of plants and the trunks of trees, leaving a small space for air circulation. And feel free to play with materials to come up with creative designs. You might even create a whole garden of designed colored stones or other mulch to craft a non-living garden. There are many ways to use mulch in the landscape. Have fun, use your imagination, and help your garden grow better while designing a more ecological landscape, all by using mulch!

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