I don’t like to describe anything as a miracle when it comes to gardening, but honestly, mulch comes close. Before I learned how to mulch, my garden was plagued with problems. While my square-foot garden did a good job of choking out weeds on its own (due to close spacing), my garden soil still seemed to be dry.
Having a garden in a prime, full sun location has its perks, but in the very middle of the summer, it’s tough to keep it well watered. I don’t have the patience to install an irrigation system (trust me, I tried) and watering every morning isn’t always possible. Mulch to the rescue!
地膜的作用是什么?
Mulch has a variety of benefits.
- Moisture retention: Mulch can keep your soil nice and moist for an extended period of time. It prevents your topsoil from drying out even on very warm days.
- Protecting root systems当前位置一层厚厚的覆盖物可以保护你的植物不受霜冻的伤害,在某些气候条件下还能让它们活过冬天。
- Soil conditioning: Bump up the airiness of your soil by applying mulch.
- Controlling soil temperature: Depending on the season, use mulch to keep your soil warm or cool. I like to use mulch for cool-season crops like lettuce and Asian greens.
- Blocking weed growth: Use mulch to control weed growth in problem spots and around your plants.
- Aesthetics: Mulch can also be used decoratively. Colored mulches can be used to improve the look of your landscaping and highlight specific areas of your garden.
Types Of Mulch
Mulch is an overarching term for several different materials. There are both organic and inorganic mulch options.
Organic
These are natural sources of mulch that will eventually break down in your soil and help to condition the earth over time. The following are a few of the most popular organic mulch options.
- Straw稻草是我最喜欢的覆盖物之一。稻草是一种优良的土壤调节剂,能很好地保持水分。避免意外购买干草。与稻草不同,干草可能含有杂草种子。
- Compost: In addition to improving soil condition, compost also adds essential nutrients to your soil. Make sure your compost is properly composted to avoid burning your plant roots and stems.
- Leaf mulch: If you have a bunch of trees on your property, you’ll find it easy to source this type of mulch. Leaves should be shredded before applying them as mulch. Unshredded leaves may harbor pests, and create a thick barrier that limits aeration.
- Grass clippings如果你有一块草坪要修剪,你可以很容易地弄到修剪下来的草屑,但要注意避免修剪过的草坪上的草屑。割完草后,对捡草屑不感兴趣?让他们在那里。它们会给你的草坪带来营养。
- Wood chips: They are easy to use, abundantly available at nurseries and hardware stores, and slower to decompose than other types of mulch.
- Cardboard: Choose cardboard without dyes and use it to keep weeds at bay. It works well as a weed barrier at the bottom of a raised bed.
- Coco coir: A coconut byproduct that readily decomposes and retains moisture quite well.
The downside of organic mulches? You’ll need to add more mulch every year.
Inorganic
Inorganic options won’t break down in the soil and last much longer than organic solutions.
- Stones, rocks, and glass:这些选择有助于排水,但也会加热很多。They’re best forcreating a rock garden.
- Faux wood chips: Usually made of rubber, this type of mulch is cheap and won’t break down like organic options. Not ideal for edible garden use because of toxicity concerns.
- Black plastic: One of the best ways to get rid of pesky weeds that seem to return no matter what you do. Plastic blocks water penetration, so you’ll need to be sure to provide water to your plats. Another option is landscape fabric that allows water to pass through but isn’t as useful for getting rid of troublesome weeds. Both are excellent choices for warm weather crops that prefer very warm soil.
Inorganic mulches are typically available in an array of colors. Options like stones offer a unique look but represent a challenge if exposed to full sun since they absorb heat.
How To Mulch: Step By Step
Applying mulch in the garden is fairly straightforward, but there are definitely some tips to learn how to mulch effectively.
1. Choose Your Mulch
You may choose to use different types of mulch in different areas (e.g., plastic mulch for your pepper plants and rubber “wood” chips for your flowerbeds).
2. Buy Enough Mulch For Your Space
Buy the right amount of mulch to cover your garden. Mulch can be purchased in bags or by the truckload from local plant supply stores or nurseries.
3. Remove Existing Weeds
Before you lay out your mulch, make sure toremove any weeds. Mulch will help suppress weeds, but they can always grow back if left in place.
4. Remove Existing Mulch (Optional)
如果添加现有的护根物(如在花坛),你可以移除它或覆盖。
5. Add Mulch In A Pile And Spread
将护根物堆在指定区域。用耙子把地膜铺好,避免铺得太厚。过多的护根会影响植物的健康。
6. Add Mulch Around Your Plants
对于蔬菜,在茎干周围盖上覆盖物,但注意不要盖得太紧。Mulching near the stem mayincrease the riskof plant disease.
7. Water Your Garden Bed
Don’t forget to water once the mulch has been applied. Add the first burst of moisture to keep the dry material in place.
8. Maintain, Maintain, Maintain!
If applying organic mulch, be sure to add more every year.
When To Use Mulch
Use mulch at the start of the season to maximize benefits. It’s fine to mulch as you go through the season, but adding a layer of mulch to your beds at the start will help suppress weed growth.
Related Post:6 Reasons Why I Chose Clover as a Living Mulch
Don’t wait too long or you risk having a plethora of weeds. Mulch can also be put down at the end of the season to protect plants from frost.
Where To Use Mulch
Use mulch anywhere in your garden where you need to conserve moisture, keep weeds down, or protect your plants. Mulch can also be used in containers. Pots are more likely to lose moisture quickly, so I love using a mulch to help maintain moisture levels even when I’m too busy to water.
Where To Avoid Mulching
It’s not advisable to mulch absolutely everywhere in the garden. In some spots, mulch may pose a problem. In areas where water does not drain adequately or tends to pool, mulch should not be used.
Related Post:Using Fall Leaves For Winter Mulch
When mulching, never apply a layer thicker than about 5 inches, as this may suffocate your plants or cause rot because of excess moisture retention. Thicker chunkier mulches can be applied more thinly to prevent problems.
只要稍加思考,你就能学会如何护根来增加你的菜园产量。添加护根物还可以改善户外空间的外观,减少你的工作量。如果你在夏天的某一天感觉不舒服,有一个覆盖良好的花园意味着你可以休息,不用担心失去你宝贵的植物。
Do you use mulch in your garden? If not, why? If you already mulch, do you have a favorite type that seems to work like a charm every year? Let us know in the comments!
Michaelsays
You can save yourself the work of removing all the weeds if you use Lee Reich’s “Weedless Gardening” method. Mow short or push over, apply newspaper etc. (1st time only), add mulch. Details are in his book.