The Value of Mulch

Article by: Michael Russell

Mulch is anything that covers the soil , The Garden Statue - -Stone, Metal, Or Gnome? for the purpose of preventing weeds, , Growing Nostalgic "Old Roses" In Your Garden conserving moisture, , My Spring Bulbs Won't Bloom - Why? or moderating the soil , Growing Roses - The Guide for Fans of Roses temperature. Many materials make good mulch. The ones you choose really depend on what's locally available, how much you want to spend, the appearance factor and where you plan , Rosemary: The Herb of Remembrance and Friendship to put it.

The best mulch materials for gardens , Roman Concrete - How They Did It and landscapes , A Guide To Residential Bridges also feed the worms and add organic , November Gardening Tips matter to the soil , Landscaping Tips: Boost Energy Efficiency with Shading Trees as they decompose. Usually, 2- to 4-inch layers are sufficient to do the job, depending on the density of the material. Take a look at the following popular mulches and their uses.

Tree bark: The ubiquitous landscape , Fuchsia procumbens mulch. Available in shreds or various-sized chunks, bark lasts a long time, depending on the particle size and gives your landscape , My Spring Bulbs Won't Bloom - Why? a finished look. Be sure you're buying real bark, however, by checking the bag label or asking the seller for the content. Wood , Edgeworthia Chrysantha chips that are dyed to look like bark are becoming prevalent in some areas.

Wood chips, sawdust and shavings: Although suitable for mulch, these products , Wicker Patio Furniture - Buying and Maintenance Tips break down more quickly than bark and compete with your plants , Books About Landscaping for nitrogen as they decompose. If you use these around food , Books About Landscaping and landscape , Hydroponics Gardening - An Introduction To Hydroponics Gardening For Beginners (Part 3) Lighting plants, be sure to add an additional nitrogen source such as animal manure or cottonseed meal. Never use materials from chemical- or pressure-treated wood. , Adirondack Chairs - How to Choose One

Shredded leaves and pine needles: These are among the best sources of free, attractive and nutrient-rich mulch for flowerbeds, fruits , Everybody Feng Shui Tonight - in the Garden and vegetables. , November Gardening Tips Be sure to shred leaves before using to prevent matting in the garden. , Five Quick Tips to Get Your Kids ing In fact, it is best to run over fallen leaves with a lawn , Five Key Factors that Affect your Potted Plants in Winter mower, discharging them into easy-to-rake mounds.

Seed hulls and crop residue: These attractive, locally available, lightweight materials include cocoa bean, buckwheat hulls, ground corncobs and other materials left over from processing an agricultural crop. Use on top of newspaper or other sheet mulch to increase suppression of weeds. , Summer Vacation and Your Pond

Straw and hay: While these are traditional vegetable garden , Flower Bulbs: Nature's Greatest Gift and strawberry mulches, beware! Hay contains weed , Summer Gardening Tips seeds that will add to your problems. Straw , Insect Spray Warnings and Healthy Alternatives from grain crops, such as oats and wheat, may contain some crop seeds, , A Guide To Residential Bridges but is a better choice as weed-suppressing mulch. Allow the soil , Everybody Feng Shui Tonight - in the Garden to warm up in the spring , Mower Safety - Blood On The Blade! before putting mulch around tomatoes , Insect Spray Warnings and Healthy Alternatives and other heat-loving crops because straw , Wicker Patio Furniture - Buying and Maintenance Tips keeps the soil , Light Up the Night! Quick Facts about Outdoor Lighting cool.

Law clippings: Clippings cost nothing and work best in flower , Basil - the Queen of Herbs and vegetable , Roman Concrete - How They Did It beds where they decompose quickly. Allow the clippings to dry on the lawn , Fuchsia procumbens and then rake them up before using. Fresh clippings may mat down and become slimy as they decompose.

Newspaper and cardboard: Use cardboard or several layers of whole newspaper sheets in pathways or around landscape , Growing Great Potatoes plants to smother weeds. , Growing Clematis Avoid the colored glossy pages. Cover with a thick layer or loose mulch, such as bark, shredded leaves or straw. , Homemade Hydroponics System Plan Depending on rainfall, you may have to replace newspaper during the growing season. , A Guide To Residential Bridges

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Gardening

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

Michael Russell - EzineArticles Expert Author

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The Value of Mulch

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