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Warm February? Chilly March? Mulch has it covered! Literally. Among the many benefits mulch provides your gardens and landscapes, is temperature regulation. The other benefits are just as important when considering mulch to improve your landscape.
Mulch is material that is spread over areas with bare soil. These areas in your landscape may surround your vegetable plants, shrubs, and trees. Material used as mulch may be organic, something that was once-living, or inorganic, something that is non-living. Organic materials include wood chips, grass clippings, leaves, pine needles, straw, bark, as well as paper and cardboard.
Pine bark and pine straw are common. They are effective, available, and may not be cost prohibitive. Leaves that have fallen and grass clippings are economical and practical. These and other organic mulches have myriad benefits.
The benefits, like regulating temperature, facilitate landscape health. Weeds are suppressed by mulch by having light blocked, controlling growth. Insufficient depth of mulch will not block light, potentially allowing for weed growth, so be mindful of your layering. Mulch should be around 1” when planting new vegetables and bedding plants, then increasing to 2”. A depth of 2” is recommended for shrubs. Newly planted trees should have approximately 3” of mulch. Mulch out, not up, being sure to start 1”-2” from trunk, out to 2’, avoiding the volcano appearance that is, unfortunately, often viewable on landscapes. This is critical to tree health by avoiding the trapping of moisture, potentially leading to decay. Older trees should have more mulch, 4” at least an 8’ diameter around.
Organic mulch enhances soil. As the organic material decomposes, soil fertility, aeration, and drainage improve. Another positive water impact of organic mulch is its aiding in the conservation of soil moisture by reducing evaporation. Time and money saved by watering less! These gains are preserved by mulch through preventing soil erosion and compaction.
Inorganic mulches like rocks, plastic mulches, and landscape fabrics can be effective. These options can also suppress weeds and retain moisture, however, they may be more expensive and intensive to install. If you elect to use plastic mulch, white is recommended to prevent the overheating of plant roots.
Considerations when selecting mulch are availability, cost, durability, and appearance. The dimensions, color, and texture may factor into your choice. An aesthetically pleasing landscape is a desire for many.
If applying mulch for the first time, know that now may be a good time, regardless when you are reading this! You may have already mulched and the organic material has broken down. Rake existing mulch to break up any layers that may be matted, freshening the appearance, and add more for appropriate depth, as necessary.
Fruiting tomato plants? Blooming azaleas? Stately live oaks? Mulch has it covered!Article for publication March 16, 2023
