Garden MulchTypes of MulchGarden mulch suppresses weeds and acts like a blanket to protect your plants. Mulch is defined as a layer of organic or inorganic material that completely covers the soil's surface. Mulching in winter, protects the plants from damage due to heaving of the roots due to freezing and thawing. Seasonal mulch suppress weeds to help keep the garden weed free! The mulch shields the soil from direct sun, to retain moisture. This means less watering for you! I like to spread bark mulch around my roses to a depth of a few inches. The Types of mulch you choose will affect the look of your garden, so pick one that is most effective as well as pleasing to your eye.
Best Garden MulchesFir, Pine Bark, Pine Needles
They control weeds better than others, as they decompose slowly. Apply 2-3 inches thick Marbel Chips or Gravel
Using stones for a garden mulch is great where wind or water errosion is a problem! They will last indifinitely. Because of their weight, they will not blow away, or be washed away. Do check the ph of the soil if you use marble chips, as it can raise the ph. CompostIf you have this available, Use It! It is very economical, and it adds nutrients to the soil! Apply 2-3 inches thick. I usually add compost, and then top dress with an additional couple inches of bark as a garden mulch. The compost will decompose quickly, but the larger pieces of the bark, stay put longer.Worst Mulchesfor the Care of RosesHay and StrawAlthough you could use these, My opinion is the bad outweigh the good, but judge for yourself;They often carry weed seeds. They make good hiding spots for rodents, They could be a fire hazzard, and being lightweight, will blow away easily. You can use grass clippings as a garden mulch, if you dry it first, outerwise, it will give off excessive heat, and it does become rather slimy! Spagnum Peat MossIt will pull moisture from the soil, as it dries out and becomes hard. Once it does, it becomes difficult to moisten again, becoming an inferior garden mulch.SawdustCould be used, but it robs nutrition from the soil as it disintegrates. If used, mix with some 5-10-5 fertilizer.Where to get Garden MulchIf you have a small garden, you can buy garden mulch bagged.For larger gardens, mulch is available through garden centers and landscaping company, sold by the cubic yard. Calculate your QuantitiesKnowing how much you need can be a real bother! If you buy in bulk from a landscaper, they can usually tell you how much you'll need. This will help:1. Calculate the square fottage of your garden (to get the square fottage, multiply the length by the width.) (example: 25ft.x 10 ft.= 250 sq. ft.) For round beds: multiply the radius (the distance from the center to the outer edge of the circle) by itself, then multiply by 3.14 (example: 6 ft. x 6 ft.x 3.14= 113 square ft.)
2. Multiply the number of square feet in your garden by the dept in inches of mulch you want to apply (example 187 sq. ft. x 3 inches=561). 3. Divide this number by 324 to find the number of cubic yards of mulch you'll need (example: 561 divided by 324=1.73 cubic yards). Note: One cubic yard of mulch will cover 324 sq. ft at a depth of 1 inch. The recommended depth of mulch is 3 inches.
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