The Value of Mulch

Article by: Michael Russell

Mulch is anything that covers the soil , A Beautiful Garden of Flowers for the purpose of preventing weeds, , The Garden Statue - -Stone, Metal, Or Gnome? conserving moisture, , Controlling Spider Mites or moderating the soil , Planning Your Garden from Scratch - the Basics 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 , Miniature Roses to put it.

The best mulch materials for gardens , Makeover On A Budget and landscapes , Mosquito Disease also feed the worms and add organic , Flower Gifts matter to the soil , Guaranteed Gladioli, Summer Colour that Returns 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 , Why I Decided To Plan My Next Years Garden Last Fall, And Why mulch. Available in shreds or various-sized chunks, bark lasts a long time, depending on the particle size and gives your landscape , A Beautiful Rose Is Nature's Gift a finished look. Be sure you're buying real bark, however, by checking the bag label or asking the seller for the content. Wood , Planning Your Garden from Scratch - the Basics 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 , How to Water Your Houseplants Wisely break down more quickly than bark and compete with your plants , Solar Garden Lights for nitrogen as they decompose. If you use these around food , Tips for Buying Plants Online and landscape , The Garden Statue - -Stone, Metal, Or Gnome? 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. , Fountains of Refreshment

Shredded leaves and pine needles: These are among the best sources of free, attractive and nutrient-rich mulch for flowerbeds, fruits , How Vacuum Formed Molds Are Made and vegetables. , Tips for Buying Plants Online Be sure to shred leaves before using to prevent matting in the garden. , Dream Yard In fact, it is best to run over fallen leaves with a lawn , Gardening Tips and Tricks for Late Autumn 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. , Miniature Roses

Straw and hay: While these are traditional vegetable garden , Colorado Blue Spruce And Lush Red Roses and strawberry mulches, beware! Hay contains weed , Decorative Stone Uses For Landscaping seeds that will add to your problems. Straw , Introduction to Botany from grain crops, such as oats and wheat, may contain some crop seeds, , Extreme Botany And The Glory of the Carnation but is a better choice as weed-suppressing mulch. Allow the soil , Why Teak Coffee Tables Are Essential For Your Outdoor Space to warm up in the spring , Flower Gifts before putting mulch around tomatoes , Man Made Puddle and other heat-loving crops because straw , Gardening Basics: Inspecting Your Soil keeps the soil , Choosing A Landscape Contractor cool.

Law clippings: Clippings cost nothing and work best in flower , Controlling Spider Mites and vegetable , Spring Gardening Tips beds where they decompose quickly. Allow the clippings to dry on the lawn , Outdoor Lighting 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 , The Garden Statue - -Stone, Metal, Or Gnome? plants to smother weeds. , Basic Swimming Pool Water Chemistry Avoid the colored glossy pages. Cover with a thick layer or loose mulch, such as bark, shredded leaves or straw. , Water Pond Safety Depending on rainfall, you may have to replace newspaper during the growing season. , Vermicomposting - Worm Composters For Eco-Friendly Waste Disposal and Recycling

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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