A Beginner’s Guide to Mulching
Gardens and lawns need proper upkeep to achieve their full potential. A major part of lawn maintenance is mulching. What is mulch, and why should you mulch? Keep reading to get these answers and learn more.
What is Mulch?
Mulch is the term for the organic and inorganic materials used to cover the surface of soil. Some use mulch for aesthetics, filling a garden or flower bed, and hiding imperfections. Others use it for a functional purpose, adding protection and nutrients to landscaping.
What Does Mulch Do?
The benefits of mulch are far-reaching. Mulch can help:
- Retain moisture in soil
- Keep soil temperatures consistent
- Reduce weed growth
- Prevent soil erosion
- Add nutrients through decomposed materials
Types of Mulch
Countless materials qualify as mulch. In fact, you probably already have a few at home! Here are the most popular organic and non-organic mulches:
Organic Mulch
Organic mulch is any natural, biodegradable material that can safely be added to soil. This kind of mulch is temporary, decomposing over time and ultimately needing to be replaced. As it decomposes, it retains moisture, insulates the soul, and adds nutrients. Organic mulch sources include:
- Grass clippings
- Shredded fallen leaves
- Shredded or chipped tree bark
- Straw
Inorganic Mulch
Inorganic mulch comes from natural or synthetic sources and doesn’t decompose. Although inorganic mulch doesn’t improve soil health, it does enhance the look of your lawn and suppress weed growth. Here are some top types of inorganic mulch:
- Gravel
- Stone
- Plastic
- Landscape fabric
Read More: Embrace the Hottest Garden and Landscape Trends of the Season
When to Mulch
The best time to start mulching is springtime, when the soil is warm and less rigid, and weeds haven’t grown beyond control. You can still apply mulch in other months, but it may require some extra work and care.
How Much Mulch Do I Need?
How much mulch you’ll need depends on the space you want to cover. To measure, multiply the square footage of your lawn or garden by your desired mulch depth in feet. This will give you the mulch you need to buy in cubic feet. There are plenty of online calculators to help you calculate this number.
How to Mulch Your Yard
Once you’ve chosen the right type of mulch for your yard, adding it is simple. Empty your bag(s) into a wheelbarrow, put on some gloves, grab a shovel and a rake, then head outside to lay your mulch. Here’s how to mulch step-by-step:
1. Clean Your Space
Remove any weeds, sticks, dried-up leaves, or debris from your soil. The healthier the soil is to start with, the bigger impact mulch will have.
2. Wet Your Soil
Adding mulch to wet soil will seal in the moisture and boost your soil health. Only do this if your soil is dry or hasn’t seen any recent rain. Too much water can damage roots.
3. Spread Your Mulch
Scoop small mulch piles with your shovel and spread them across your flower bed or yard. Use your rake to flatten and spread the piles. Keep mulch about three inches from the base of flowers or the trunks of trees to give them room to breathe. Mulch layers should be two to four inches thick, deep enough to keep weeds from growing but thin enough to allow water to get to the soil.
4. Conduct Maintenance
Check the depth of your mulch at the start of every season, adding and removing to areas as needed. Simultaneously, you should re-rake your mulch to keep things fresh. Mulch made of organic materials should be replaced every one to two years. Inorganic mulch can last a long time, but you should replace it once you see signs of weathering.
Common Mulching Mistakes to Avoid
While there are many benefits of mulching, doing it incorrectly can have serious consequences. Here are some mulching mistakes to avoid:
- Using tall grass clippings. Tall and large grass clippings won’t decompose properly. They do more harm than good by prohibiting nutrients from reaching the soil.
- Using wet grass clippings. Clumps of wet grass clippings can attract yellow fungal growth and block sunlight and air from reaching the soil.
- Mulching over diseases or weeds. Mulching over unhealthy areas can exacerbate issues. Clear yards of disease or significant weed problems before adding mulch to your routine.
- Using pesticides or herbicides right away. Experts recommend waiting at least 90 days before adding mulch to a lawn exposed to chemicals.
Read More: Mow Like a Pro: Grass Cutting Tips & Tricks
Mulch and Caring for Fall Plants
What is mulch? Is it suitable for grass? How do you apply mulch correctly? Now you have all the answers, and with fall fast approaching, it’s the perfect time to use what you’ve learned in your garden. If you’re thinking of planting mums this autumn in addition to your mulching routine, read our breakdown on “How to Choose, Plant, & Care for Fall Mums.” Just like with this mulching guide, you’ll get all the information you need to take care of your seasonal flowers.
Mulching FAQs
How to know what kind of mulch to use?
Picking the right mulch will vary depending on your landscaping desires. Consider an organic option if you want to focus on things like soil health and weed suppression. If you want to add mulch for aesthetics, inorganic options will do the job.
Can mulching leaves kill grass?
Mulch can kill grass if applied incorrectly. Avoid mulching with tall or wet grass clippings and clippings that are diseased or contain weeds. You should also not add mulch to landscaping recently exposed to pesticides or herbicides.
What month should you mulch?
Springtime (March-May) is the best time to mulch a lawn or garden. The soil is warm and less rigid during those months, and weeds haven’t grown beyond control.
What is the 3-3-3 rule for mulch?
The 3-3-3 rule is the recommended way to apply mulch near a tree. There should be a three-inch gap between the tree trunk and the mulch, which should be three inches deep. The mulch should extend three feet from where you start in a donut shape around the trunk.
Can you lay down too much mulch?
It’s possible to lay down too much mulch. If you apply more mulch than recommended or calculated, you risk trapping too much moisture and blocking out air and water, which could lead to disease, weeds, and decay.