So, you've decided to mulch your garden. But what materials do you use for mulch? There are many organic and several non-organic options available to use to mulch your garden. The important thing to remember is to put down a thick enough layer of mulch material so that it keeps weeds from germinating and conserves soil moisture.
Another thing to remember is to keep the mulch from touching the base or main stem of the plants. This helps keep slugs and other pests from taking up residence in the warm, dark area right next to your plants.
Fallen autumn leaves are a free, abundant material you can mulch your garden with. They have a tendency to mat down so find a way to shred or break them apart. You can use a wood chipper or shredder. If you don't have access to one of those, you can spread them on the ground in a 2 to 3 inch layer and mow over them with your lawn mower. Another way to break them up is to put them into a hard plastic bucket or trash can and go after them with your weed wacker. Spread shredded autumn leaves 2 to 3 inches thick.
Grass clippings are another free mulching material. It's best not to apply freshly mown grass clippings to your garden because their decomposition process causes them to heat up enough that they may damage your plants. Set them aside in a pile for a couple weeks before you add them to the surface of your garden soil. Spread them no more than one inch thick. Grass clippings break down rapidly, so collect and save them each time you mow.
Hay can be a low-cost alternative if it is spoiled and therefore unsuitable for livestock. Apply hay to a depth of 6 to 8 inches or 2 to 3 inches if you chop or shred it first. The downside of hay is that it usually contains weed seeds. However, so-called second- or third-growth hay that has not gone to seed will eliminate that problem. This is usually available after midsummer. An alternative is straw, which is weed-free but more expensive.
Wood chips are aesthetically pleasing and decompose slowly. Some municipalities offer wood chips to their citizens free for the taking. Spread wood chips to a depth of 2 to 3 inches. Because they rob nitrogen from the soil, fertilize the plants with high-nitrogen fertilizer.
Buckwheat hulls look good, retain moisture and decompose slowly. However, they can be expensive and may sprout and begin growing. Spread them no more than two inches thick. They may blow around in high wind or move around from rainfall.
Newspapers are another free source of mulch. Lay them on the ground at least two layers thick. They will only last one season but work very well in suppressing weeds. A good way to use newspapers as mulch is to lay them in the paths between the rows. Another way is to put them under a more aesthetically pleasing but more expensive mulch material. You'll be able to stretch the more expensive material by putting down a thinner layer of it.
Whatever you choose to mulch with, it will go a long way to helping your garden be more productive and less work for you. And who doesn't like that?
Copyright Sharon Sweeny, 2009. All rights reserved.
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