Landscape Maintenance - Mulches
About Mulches
Definition of Mulch
In gardening and farming terms mulches are used to provide a protective cover over soil and gardens. They primarily help modify the harsh effects of climate, wind, rainfall and snow. There are a wide variety of mulches consisting of both natural and synthetic materials. Mulches help soil retain water as well as providing plants, flowers and trees with healthy nutrients. What is Mulch Made of?
Most natural mulches consists of all types of natural materials which are; dead leaves, branches, plant debris, bacteria, fungi, living organisms and twigs. The bacteria and fungi help the other natural materials to decay and become raw. Once all components of mulches are blended and decayed this is Mother Nature’s way of returning nutrients which have been used by millions of generations of plant life.
Organic mulches are used to conserve moisture in the soil, feed plants and insects vital for the garden. Organic mulch is generally made of decaying mulch with all the components of natural mulch included but the difference is it’s not completely decayed yet. It can give off a foul smell but it is highly nutritional for the garden, soil, turf and insects throughout the yard. The Benefits of Mulches
Mulches will not perform exciting miracles to your garden but one benefit of mulches is that it helps provide better plant growth and development. Another benefit of mulches is that it makes landscaping maintenance tasks a lot simpler. By applying mulches to gardens and grass it will help plants grow efficiently during warm, cold and wet climates.
Mulches also are beneficial in the garden because they help prevent erosion. They provide the soil with a shield which protects it from the harsh impact of rainfall, ice melt and strong winds. Mulches will also help soil conserve and retain moisture which it so needs to stay stable and nutritional.
Managing Mulches
Managing mulches is simple and easy if you know just exactly the right amount to use. All types of mulches should be applied in layers of 2 to 6 inches thick. The thickness of the mulch layer will depend on how coarse the mulch material is. Thicker layers of mulch exceeding 6 inches should be used around the roots of plants, trees and vegetable gardens. 4 inches of mulch should be used for plants and flowers in the garden and 2 to 4 inches of mulch should be used on grass and turf applications.
When you apply mulches around plants you should cover the entire area so that the soil is unseen. But try to stay away from tree trunks and plant roots as the mulch may cause harm. There are mulching products available to assist with this type of application problem. Watering When Mulches Are Used
All types of mulches retain moisture but it is still necessary for the plants and flowers to be watered. Watering should occur at least once a day and it should be concentrated at the root zone underneath the mulch layer. Drip irrigation systems are most effective when used in conjunction with mulches; they are a highly effective source of watering for the garden.
