2. Moderates soil moisture levels by limiting evaporation of moisture already in the ground
3. Unifies the landscape design by providing pleasing color and texture throughout
4. Reduces erosion and splash-back on residences by softening the impact of raindrops on bare earth
5. Suppresses weed growth by preventing weed seeds from sprouting
6. Enriches the soil by adding nutrients when decomposing, improves the physical properties of the soil and can worked into the beds at the end of the season
7. Encourages the proliferation of earthworms, which aerate the soil
8. Provides a zone of protection from string trimmers for tender trunks
9. Cushions the impact of foot traffic
10. Hides irrigation and power lines, valve boxes, outdoor lights and landscaping hardware
How to Mulch:
A blanket of mulch of about 2 – 4 inches and not much more is best. If the trunks of trees or shrubs come into contact with mulch, ideal conditions for the growth of fungus disease can be present. Reduce this possibility by leaving a 3 – 4 inch space between the mulch and the trunks, or an 8 inch space around mature trees.
1. Ornamental poppy seeds, foxgloves, nigella, and other annuals, perennials and natives like purple cone flower need bare ground to sprout and won't sprout under mulch. So pull back the mulch in an area where you intend to scatter seeds.
2. Pine voles (nasty, stub-tailed, mice-like herbivores) tunnel on top of the soil but under too-thick mulch to gnaw on the crowns of my favorite and rarest plants, especially during the cold months. Still, I think the benefits outweigh any drawbacks.
Let me know your favorite kinds of organic mulch.
My sister's landscape designer has somehow convinced her that mulch is evil and shouldn't be used. She lives in zone 3, has crappy soil, and they don't get much rain in the summer so she constantly has to water. Personally, I think he's just trying to create more business for himself by replacing all the plants that die because of the lack of mulch!! Thanks for reminding us of all the reasons why mulch is a good thing - I will forward it to my sister!
ReplyDeleteHey, Monica, I hope your sister in Zone 3 (yikes!) will garden easy by adding mulch. Is that a Zone where she must wait to plant tender summer plants until Memorial Day?
ReplyDeleteHow does your garden grow?