The correct mulch also helps prevent erosion and prevent large fluctuations in soil temperature. In other words, mulch modifies the soil microclimate around your growing plants.
The Difference Between Mulch and Compost
The terms mulch and compost are often confused. Mulch is a material placed on top of the soil to conserve moisture and retard weed growth.
Compost is made from rotted down organic material that was once living such as manure, hay and grass clippings. It is dug through the soil to provide nutrients for plants. Mulch may eventually turn into compost, if it is organic material.
Different Types of Mulching Materials
There are three different types of mulch: -
- Organic - usually plant material.
- Synthetic - plastics and geotextile.
- Mineral - pebbles or crushed rock.
Understanding the differences will help the gardener choose the best mulch for each situation. Generally speaking, organic and mineral mulches cool the soil while synthetic mulches warm it up.
Ideally, mulch is light and permeable enough to allow water and air to pass through, yet dense enough to inhibit or eliminate the growth of weeds.
Any biodegradable material can be used as organic mulch. This includes shredded or chipped bark, shredded leaves, hay, straw, grass clippings and peat moss.
Avoid using big leaves whole unless they are mixed with straw or other light material, as they tend to mat down and prevent water and air from reaching the soil. Adding manure over the top will encourage faster rotting and they will eventually become compost.
Grass clippings that are free of pesticide residue are an excellent choice of mulching material. They are so small they start breaking down and enriching the soil almost immediately. Do not pile grass clippings on too thickly as they can also form a thick barrier against moisture.
Other ideas for mulch are sawdust or shavings from sawmills, spent hops from breweries, or composted manure and straw from mushroom growers.
Sawdust is deficient in nitrogen so it should be mixed with compost or fertiliser. Softwood sawdust is acidic, so should not be placed too close to plants that prefer a neutral or alkaline soil.
Benefits of Using Mulches
- Mulched plant roots are not subjected to extreme temperatures. They are protected from excessive heat and cold.
- Organic mulches and some mineral mulch contain nutrients that gradually wash down into the soil and fertilize the plant roots.
- Weeding and hoeing are practically eliminated! The few weeds that do poke up through the mulch are easily nipped out, and there is no need to cultivate because mulch keeps the soil loose.
- Mulch protects the soil from the drying action of the sun and wind, and from erosion caused by wind and hard rain. Mulched plants need less watering.
- Mulch protects vegetables that lie on the ground from rotting and dirt.
When Not to Mulch
- When seedlings are young. Seedlings planted in very moist soil should not be mulched until they are well established, as the higher soil moisture can encourage damping-off, a fungal infection that is usually fatal.
- When soil is waterlogged. Mulching perennials in wet conditions causes crown rot, another fungal infection. Leave an open circle a few inches in diameter around the base of each plant for air circulation.
- Mulching is an easy gardening chore - much easier than weeding and hoeing. It benefits the plants, the soil and the gardener.
Recommended Reading:
The Mulch Book: A Complete Guide for Gardeners (Down-to-Earth Book) (Paperback) by Stu Campbell Amazon.com
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