Mulches

Mulches have become a mainstay in American gardens. A fairly new feature to landscapes, these are useful in some climates. Here are some tips on how and why to use mulches.

Why Use Mulch?

Garden mulches can help conserve precious soil moisture by slowing down evaporation. This can be especially important in arid regions. If summers tend to be hot and dry in your area, mulches are a good idea.

At the same time, mulches suppress newly sprouting weed seeds. Loose mulches, such as wood chips and stone, can also stabilize soil temperatures.

As organic mulches decay over a period of years, they enrich the soil and provide nutrients for the plants.

When mulch is placed around trees and shrubs, this provides protection from mowers and trimmers.

Loose mulches beautify plantings by unifying the different areas of the landscape. Avoid using red brick chips or dyed red mulch simply to add color to the garden. This is distracting.

General Guidelines for Applying Mulch

When applying plastic mulch in vegetable gardens, cut large holes when inserting the plants. This allows enough room for water and rainfall to reach the soil.

Loose mulches should never be allowed to touch the stems or trunks of plants. A two to three inch layer is enough. Don’t overdo it. In this case, more isn’t better.

Unfortunately, volcano mulching is a current trend, particularly in commercial and retail landscapes. This practice involves arranging bark mulch in a huge, thick, cone-like configuration around a tree trunk. The excessive mulch smothers tree roots and keeps the trunks constantly moist.

Generally, loose mulches are left in place year-round. In colder regions, additional mulch is often added for winter protection. This extra layer minimizes frost heaving. Winter mulches are removed during the spring once temperatures moderate.

Avoid Flammable Mulches

If you live in a fire-prone area, avoid flammable mulches at all cost. These include bark and wood chips as well as chopped leaves and straw. Rubber mulches, which are made from recycled tires, could present a fire hazard as well.

In regions where wildfires are a common occurrence, the only suitable choices are inorganic mulches. Examples include stone, gravel, brick chips, and similar inflammable materials

Don’t spread wood or bark chips close to homes or other structures. During a power outage several years ago in western North Carolina, a spark from a generator started a fire. This caused extensive damage to the home. It occurred when the machine was placed beside the house on top of wood mulch.