subject: What Is Mulch [print this page] What Is Mulch What Is Mulch
What is mulch? Mulch is the layer of organic or inorganic material that is spread on top of the soil to conserve the soil moisture, discourage the growth of weeds, and to help prevent erosion. Mulch will also prevent large fluctuations in soil temperature. Mulch essentially modifies the soil micro-climate around your growing plants and as an added bonus makes your landscape look even nicer. Ideally the mulch you place down is both light and permeable enough to allow water and air to pass through. Mulch must also be dense enough to inhibit or eliminate the growth of weeds. Mulches may be organic meaning plant materials like pine straw mulch, mineral for example crushed stone or gravel rocks, or synthetic meaning plastics or geotextiles are used. Understanding these major differences in types of mulch will help you choose the best mulch for your situation. One of the main differences in the mulch types mentioned above is that organic and mineral mulches cool the soil while synthetic mulches warm it up. Any biodegradable material like pine needles can be used as organic mulch in fact the most easily attainable materials include shredded or chipped bark, shredded leaves, hay, or straw. A big benefit of natural mulch is that the plant roots are not subjected to extreme temperatures. Mulch free roots get hot and dry in the summer and can be damaged by the heaving of soil during sudden frosts and thaws in winter. Organic mulches and some mineral mulch contain nutrients that gradually wash down into the soil and fertilize the plant roots. Weeding and weekly maintenance of the garden is practically eliminated when you mulch! The few weeds that manage to poke up through the mulch are easily nipped out, and there's no need to cultivate because the mulch keeps the soil loose. Mulch protects the soil from the drying action of the wind, and protects it from erosion from hard rain. Mulched plants can often endure a long dry spell with hardly any watering. Pine Straw mulch protects and enriches vegetables such as squash, cucumber, un-staked tomatoes or strawberries that lie on the ground when they're ripe. The pine mulch keeps them clean and dry, preventing rot and mildew. Likewise, low growing flowers will not be splashed with mud in a well mulched flower bed. However, if the soil is waterlogged from spring rains, let it dry out a bit before mulching perennials to avoid crown rot, another fungal infection. It is best to leave an open circle a few inches in diameter around the base of each plant for air circulation. So make sure you pick out good quality organic mulch like pine straw this spring! Your plants will benefit by having their roots protected in the summer and your soil will stay loose and breathable, weeding will disappear off your chore list and you'll save on water too!
