How to use mulch to improve your garden’s health
Spreading mulch throughout your garden beds is a simple thing to do will reward you with many positive results. Mulch can improve the appearance of your landscape while conserving water and suppressing weeds, and it will improve the health of your plants and soil.
There are several types of mulch that are made mostly from wood products. Gravel can even be used as a mulch. Since they vary in appearance, often the choice is made based on color and texture. Other considerations include redwood mulch for sun-loving plants and peat moss for shade-loving plants because of the higher acid content.
There are many different types of mulch: shredded bark, redwood mulch, shredded cedar, peat moss, cocoa hulls, rice hulls, compost, straw, newspaper and more.
How thick do you layer it? Four inches thick is optimum. Ultimately, it depends on how much money you want to spend, how much time you want to spend spreading, and essentially your estimation of what works best.
Another appropriate use of mulch would be to smother lawns or dense weeds. A thick layer of compost or mulch will cause the lawn or weeds to decay while adding organic matter to the soil. A thick layer of newspaper will do the same job, and then later decompose.
In the summer, mulch will help maintain moisture longer in the soil and will also keep the ground from cracking. In the winter, mulch will keep the plants warmer and reduce damage from frost.
Making your own mulch with yard waste and kitchen scraps can save you money and time and does not require a lot of space. A mulch pile can be a simple pile in the yard. Or, you could build a small bin or buy a mulch barrel. And if you are so inclined, you can invest in a shredder to shred your own materials.
By following time-honored guidelines for creating making and using mulch, your efforts will reward you with grow healthly plants, healthy soil, water efficiency.
For more information on the impact of mulch in the garden, visit http://ucanr.edu/sites/UrbanHort/files/80212.pdf.
Leonard Cicerello is a UCCE Master Gardener.
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In San Luis Obispo call 781-5939, Arroyo Grande, 473-7190 and Templeton, 434-4105. Visit us at http://ucanr.org/sites/mgslo/ or email us at anrmgslo@ucanr.edu. Follow us on Instagram at slo_mgs and like us on Facebook. Informative garden workshops are held the third Saturday of every month, 10 a.m. to noon at 2156 Sierra Way, San Luis Obispo. Garden docents are available after the workshop until 1 p.m. To request a tour of the garden, call 781-5939.
This story was originally published February 9, 2016 at 6:00 PM with the headline "How to use mulch to improve your garden’s health."