Mulch is one of the top gardening time-savers. Whether it’s your flowering landscape or your vegetable garden, mulching is the key to keeping a lush garden. It can keep pests off, save you from the effort of having to water your garden often, and keep your plants happy and healthy.
Therefore, the decision to use mulch for your garden is a good idea. To have a fruitful one, though, you can’t simply settle for any type of mulch. You have to use only the best you can find where you are. You don’t need to be a gardening expert to have a beautiful garden, but you have to know the basics of garden add-ons like mulch.
In this article, you’ll learn about the tips on finding the right mulch for your garden.
How to Choose Mulch for your garden?
01. Consider The Plants You Have:
Most types of mulch work well with all plants, but some plants are better off with specific types of mulch. When you’re using mulch for a vegetable garden, remember that not all vegetables grow in the same conditions.
Here are some pointers that may come in handy:
Heat-loving plants, like tomatoes, melons, and peppers, prefer to have black plastic mulch. These are best to apply in the spring months, to allow the plastic to raise the soil temperature and warm the air surrounding the plants.
Note, however, that plastic mulches aren’t generally water-permeable. Over time, your plants may get thirsty, creating the need to water your plants.
Meanwhile, cool-weather plants like leafy greens and broccoli won’t do well with the extra heat due to the plastic mulch. They’re better off with natural mulches like straw, paper, shredded leaves, and grass. Those types of mulch can help lower soil temperatures by as much as 20 to 25 degrees.
02. Go with Organic Mulch:
There’s nothing better than taking the natural route to mulching. One of the most valuable types is what’s referred to as forest litter or organic mulch. Not only is it healthy for your plants, but also aesthetically pleasing. It has deep brown colors that give off that beautiful, soft, and varied texture.
Organic mulch is also effective in keeping nutrient-rich soil. Additionally, if you’re on a tight budget, natural mulch is the cheapest in the market because it doesn’t have any added products to it. Depending on where you purchase your mulch, many times they offer mulch delivery services too.
03. Get To Know The Different Types Of Mulch:
Getting to know the common types of mulch is also another way to find the right one. Each type has its strengths and weaknesses, but they’re also safe to use for any crop or plant. You’ll learn more and master the specifics of mulching when you often practice. Eventually, you can choose the right plant and mulch pairing.
With that, here’s a list of some of the commonly used types of mulch:
- Shredded Leaves Or Wood Chips. These are available in garden centers or hardware. If you want free ones, you may also approach your local tree-care companies if they have wood chips for
- Grass Clippings. These are great for vegetable gardens as they are rich in nitrogen.
- You’re doing the earth and your garden a favorif you practice composting with your biodegradable waste at home.
- Hay Or Straw. This can help add organic matter to your soil while helping retain its moisture.
- Plastic Mulch. This prevents the growth of weeds.
04. Consider The Weather:
Where you live or where you’re from matters, too. If you live in a tropical country, then your garden will naturally need mulch to retain moisture in contrast to those who live in a cooler, four-seasoned country. In the former, you have to be careful with plastic mulching as it can dry up your soil easily. For the latter, you also have to be wary about soil-cooling mulch, which can lead to too much moisture.
Often, the best season to apply would be in June or July, but your location will still matter.
05. Match the Mulch With The Benefits You Wish To Attain:
Homeowners or garden keepers will each have the respective benefits they wish to attain by mulching. When choosing and finding mulch, the right one for you will always allow you to satisfy your intended purpose. If not, a mismatch may render your reason and effort for mulching futile.
Some of the main reasons why homeowners proceed with mulching are as follows:
- It protects your plants from the harsh conditions of the colder months.
- It reduces the growth of weeds.
- It protects any bare soil.
- It keeps the soil warm during the winter season.
- It improves the health and growth of your plants.
- It prevents soil crusting.
- It makes your garden look more attractive.
06. Choose Those Mulch That Also Offer Aesthetic Value:
On top of keeping your plants healthy, mulch can also add to the aesthetic value of your garden. This sixth tip shouldn’t matter much if your main purpose for mulching is for your vegetable garden. However, if it’s for a flower garden or your landscaped garden, choose a mulch that makes your garden look better as well. Thus, go for that type of mulch that complements the exterior color of your home. For instance, you may have stucco, brick, or stone for your driveway. Choose the mulch that complements what you have to avoid a messy look in your garden.
Conclusion
With so many types of mulch to choose from, a simple choice can be confusing when you’re overwhelmed by many possibilities. Mulching is one of the basic things you have to know about gardening. Given its benefits, it can brighten up your garden’s overall appeal with how your flowers and plants will bloom for everyone’s delight. The guide presented here will lead you to find out how to choose mulch for your garden and the plants you have. Once your decision is final, apply it to your garden and see how it changes the way it looks. Keep these tips in mind and refer to them when needed, and then you can be a step closer toward having a lush, happy, and healthy garden.
If you are interested to know more about mulch, you may refer our article –
Everything you need to know about mulch
