I have often been asked what my favorite part of working in the garden is- “To me, it’s the chance to see the different stages, as the gardens change with the seasons. Every visit back to a client’s garden gives me an opportunity to observe what we can do to help our gardens stay healthy year-round” – Emily McGowan, Lead Garden Steward at Natural Greenscapes.
The one constant that I see each season is the multitude of benefits that come from applying mulch in the garden. Take a walk anywhere in nature and you will see that the soil is not left bare but rather naturally mulched by fallen leaves, twigs, etc. It is the soil’s protective layer, almost like a jacket that protects your body. Your garden wants to be mulched!
Image Source: Mulch Myths – Garden Professors Blog
The benefits to mulching are vast, some of them are-
- Mulch protects soil from erosion, runoff, and the impact of compaction from rainfall. This is the most significant impact on gardens in the Pacific Northwest.
- Mulch regulates the soil temperatures during all seasons. In winter, it protects the roots from frost damage and in summer it helps roots cool by intercepting the drying rays of the sun. Why spend more money watering your garden when you can use mulch to conserve water? Let the mulch prevent evaporation and keep the moisture it in the soil for your plants to use.
- Mulch (organic types or those amended with compost) enriches the soil with nutrients as it decomposes over time. This has a positive effect on soil’s microbial communities and ecosystems functions.
- Mulch, esp. a 2″ to 4″ layer will smother unwanted weeds by preventing germination of weed seeds in the ground. Those that do manage to break through tend to be shallow rooted and easy to pull out.
- Mulch (wood chips in particular) improves the soil structure over time, especially clayey soils.
When deciding to mulch, it is important to remember that not all mulches are created equal. We caution you to stay away from inorganic mulches like marble chips, black plastic landscape fabric and all kinds of rubber mulch. They may prevent weeds but end up destroying the soil structure over time. We also avoid all fine-bark mulches since they mat together, repel water flowing into the soil and prevent the oxygen flow into the roots – read more in this article by Ann Lovejoy.
Wood chips (from an arborist or from a woodchipper on site) will break down slowly and provide longer lasting benefits. We highly recommend arborist wood chips and several green industry experts recommend it as well – Garden Mentors and Garden Professors. It can have delivered to you through Chip Drop – Free Wood Chips for Gardeners | Chip Drop’s Services or can be purchased from Cedar Grove or from Pacific Top Soils.
Wood chip mulch fills the garden with fragrance, nutrients & weed suppression. Image Source: Garden Mentors
Composted organic debris, manure or sawdust can be used to mulch your garden as well; however, they tend to break down fast and will need to be applied more often. Some clients prefer dark mulches mixed with compost, which we source locally from Cedar Grove (Pro Mulch) or from Pacific Top Soils (Garden Mulch).
When applying mulch in your garden, it is recommended to apply it in a 2″ to 4″ thick layer. Be sure not to mulch near the base of plants, especially woody shrubs and trees. A light mulch application near base that feathers outwards like a bowl to a thicker layer is ideal. Mulching plants too deep can cause them to suffocate and rot over time.
Image Source: Ed Gilman et al (U of Florida)
Mulching helps your garden thrive! The amount of time and money spent mulching will be paid back by the long-term benefits that come from it. Allow your garden to work for you and give your plants an added layer of protection in every season.
Additional Resources:
Mulching Around the Farm – The Martha Stewart Blog
Natural Mulch – Molbak’s Garden and Home
Over-Mulching: The Dangers of Too Much Mulch – TreeNewal’s Blog
