By now , you ’ve credibly hear thatmulchis an all important part of a successful farm or garden . Garden mulch is a layer of organic material that is diffuse on the soil to protect or ameliorate soil . Mulch stuff can range from “ brown ” mulch ( carbon ) — shredded leaves , newspaper , stubble , or wood fleck — to “ green ” mulch ( nitrogen)—grass press clipping , cut weeds or herbaceous plant or manure . It can also hold compost grease and living mulches . While it ’s common practice to put mulch down in the garden at the ending of the growing time of year , mulch also help oneself in the springtime garden and throughout the growing season .
Here ’s what you need to know for integrate mulching into your gardening docket .
Why Mulch?
Mulching is a simple-minded deed that can cause big benefits to your uprise season . As you ’re await for yourspring seed to germinateso you could graft them into the garden , refresh the beds with a level of mulch to make a receive habitat for your fresh craw .
Mulch According To Climate
In cold-blooded , dry climates , mysterious mulch will aid to insulate the soil from fluctuating and uttermost temperature and help oneself to reduce evaporation , while in cool , pixilated climates , a mystifying mulch could be detrimental by preventing air circulation and the evaporation of excess wet . Keep this in brain as you work your garden . If the latter describes your garden conditions , use a light mulch that will allow the soil to breathe while still preventing grunge compression and wearing away in heavy rain .
Seasonal Mulching Considerations
Spring Mulching
If temperatures are already ignite up and drying out for you , then a healthy stratum of mulch will be beneficial to your outflow garden . On the other hand , if spring is typically a cool , wet season , then go light on the mulch this fourth dimension of year .
Here in my Ohio zone-6a garden , I keep my garden deeply mulched in the early spring to protect against late cold snap until I ’m ready to plant . At the time of planting , I rip back the mulch to calculate semen , then overcompensate the seeding with a light layer of shredded leave or stalk . This allows the germ admission to aviation and sunlight for sprouting but reduces disruption from boo and squirrel .
incubate crops are typically sown in the drop and deform under in the leap before institute . Ideally , cover crop will be rationalise at the dirt level in the spring , about a calendar month before planting , and then incorporated into the soil either through tilling or by using a dig fork . break up the roots at this time will make planting soft , too .
As the season give way on , adjust the amount of mulch used to reflect the climate — recondite mulch for hot , juiceless climates and sparkle mulch for cool , wet climates . yearly support mulches , such as sweet madwort or genus Nasturtium , can be seeded in between planting rows . Not only will the flowering plants cover the filth surface , but they will also attract pollinators and repel pest .
Fall Mulching
downfall is an excellent time to feed the soil in the vegetable garden . Apply soil amendments or plant food , then top them with green mulch or animal manure , and fetch up with a brown mulch . This will protect and sustain the soil over the winter . declination is also a good time to establish a cover harvest .
Get Mulching!
Mulch should never touch the stems of plants as it can cause disease . dark-green layer are typically laid first , and then topped with brownish layer . Apply a layer of mulch that is 1 to 4 inches thick — less in wet / warm country and more in dry / cold-blooded expanse .
When choosing your mulch materials , catch out for herbicides . sealed mulch , like forage clippings and chaff , can be ladened with weedkiller that will contaminate the soil and cut flora vigor . If you intend to use either of these stuff in your garden , it will be wise to get laid their source .
Leaves should alwaysbe shreddedbefore using as mulch and light-green plant matter should be chopped into diminished firearm , because both can form a thick mat that will reduce the soil ’s power to take a breather . Aeration is good for healthy soil .
Pippa Buchanan/Flickr
If using report , use black and blanched ( not glossy ) shredded newspaper . It wo n’t front the prettiest , so consider topping it with compost filth if esthetics are a concern .
Depending on the size of your garden , mulching may take a pair hour to a brace sidereal day of heave lifting . But by taking the clock time to give some extra care and thought to your soil at the beginning and end of each horticulture season , you ’ll cultivate grease that will support the outgrowth of healthy fruits and vegetables that you ’ll delight for years to come .
