Spreading mulch in your garden is a simple labor that come with a passel of benefits . But agreement when , how , and what sort to lay down can sometime feel complicated .
In this scout you ’ll discover all the selective information you need to select the veracious mulch textile for each of your garden seam , plus how and when to spread it correctly .
tabular array of Contents
Using my hands to lay mulch around plants
Benefits of Mulching Your Garden
The main benefits of mulching your garden are weed and wet control . Adding a loggerheaded layer over the top of the soil jumble existing weeds and keeps their semen from germinating .
It also help the stain stick coolheaded , and slows vaporization so it can retain moisture well during the hot summertime months .
Mulching benefits your plant as well because it adds nutrients to the soil as it break down . This help to build a rich , fertile grow medium that they love .
What Kind of Mulch to Use
There are lots of different kinds of mulch you’re able to habituate in your garden . The exact type you prefer depends on your orientation , and the character of bottom you ’re pass to lay it in .
Organic materials , such as leaves , straw , or grass clippings , are readily available in some yards , and great for veggie or annual beds .
Hardwood mulches or Grant Wood crisp , like cedarwood , pine , and barque , last longer and have a more finished look . They ’re most usually used in landscaping or repeated beds .
How Often to Replace Mulch
How often you ’ll need to replace mulch depends on the eccentric you use . Lightweight constituent stuff give down much faster than hardwood does .
They will want to be replaced at least once per twelvemonth , and sometimes more often if they decompose quickly .
woodwind instrument mulches need to be spread every 2 - 3 year . They do tend to evanesce though , so if it ’s not time to replace it , you may just fluff it up using a rake or your manus to freshen the look .
When to Spread Mulch
outflow and fall are both great times to repose mulch in your garden bed . I personally favour doing it in the spring so that it looks smart all summer long .
The best time for bounce mulching is after the earth has dethaw , but while it ’s still moist . I also recommend waiting until the plants have started spring up . Otherwise , you could incidentally swallow up something that has n’t start up yet .
If you do n’t get to it in the spring , do n’t interest . you may do it anytime , summertime through the fall .
How Deep to Lay Mulch
You should propagate any type of mulch 2 - 4 inches deep . Anything less than 2 inches , and you wo n’t get the welfare of weed trade protection .
On the flip side , lay it more than 5 inches deep can forbid water from get to the grunge , and bury the base of plants .
How to Properly Lay Mulch
think it or not , there is a correct way and a wrong way to spread mulch in your garden . Doing it the wrong fashion is one of the biggest mistakes that newbies make .
If you have an region where there ’s only soil ( with no plant ) , then you do n’t need to worry about good or wrong . Just disperse it in a overnice , even stratum .
But , if you ’re commit it around a tree or garden flora , then proper mulching is very important .
The most unwashed misunderstanding citizenry make is to jam it around the foundation of plant and trees . This is very uncollectible for them .
Partially buried plant stems and Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree trunks can end up having major issuing with pests , disease , and rotting .
It ’s important to keep the mulch away from the base of the plants , so that there is plenty of gentle wind circulation around the fore .
Make certain that none of it is touching the stem . It ’s easy to do that if you use your men to spread it out .
How to Spread Mulch in 4 Easy Steps
It ’s best to circularize mulch when the soil is dampish rather than dry , and it ’s also easy to pull the sess . So , if your garden is dry , water system it well the Nox before .
Supplies Needed
Instructions
Step 1 : dispatch give weeds – Do n’t worry , you do n’t need to remove every single tiny Mary Jane you see .
You just need to occupy about polish off the large 1 , the smaller seedling will be smothered .
stone’s throw 2 : Edge the garden beds – In addition to remove weed , it ’s a good idea to edge your bed to remove any grass that ’s creeping in before put the mulch .
That will give your bed a nice clean feeling , and keep the grass from take over later on . Aweeding toolwill make this job a cinch !
Step 3 : circularise the mulch – If there ’s old mulch in the garden , you do n’t need to remove it before add together more . Just put the reinvigorated layer decent over the top .
Use your manus to lay it around the base of the plants , seduce indisputable that none of it is piled around the stem . you could apply abow raketo circularise it in larger areas and in between the industrial plant .
dance step 4 : Water well later on – This whole step is optional , but if the mulch is totally dry , then it ’s a good idea to wet it down after you ’re done circulate it .
This will librate it down and help oneself to keep it from blowing away in the idle words . It will also ensure that the mulch comes in contact with the soil , so it can surround all those weed .
That ’s it , gentle peasy . Now that you have a go at it when and how to spread mulch in your garden , you ’ll be able-bodied to enjoy all of the benefits . Just be sure to freshen it regularly .
