Advertising

Mulching - A Gardener's Tip For A Fantastic Garden

| Print |

E-mail

Written by Dave Truman

Thursday, 10 April 2008

by DaveTruman

Seeing a well-tended garden brings the feeling of feeling refreshed. The green grass and bright flowers help to create this feeling. In order to achieve that green look, there is much work required. Providing your garden with a mulching compound is one of the best ways to help your garden to look healthy and green.

A mulch is a protective layer of material which is placed around the plants and shrubs in your garden. Mulches can be considered organic or inorganic. You will have to choose which type will work best for your garden.

Organic mulches are made of plant matter. They're similar to the pine needles and leaves that fall to the ground and protect in forests. They decompose over time; the decomposed mulch serves to keep soil moist and plant roots cool, and keep nutrients in.

Examples of organic mulching include: straw, pine straw, shredded leaves, bark, wood chips, sawdust and newspaper. Each of these types have different characteristics which you should consider when including them in your garden.

Leaves, bark, sawdust, straw and wood chips can be washed away by heavy rain, can take nitrogen of the soil, and can let weeds grow in them. Bark chips and wood, although they can cause these problems, can give an attractive look to the garden.

Pine Straw and Newspaper mulching are best organic types to put in the garden. Newspaper mulching works best for your vegetable garden as they tend to suppress weeds. Pine Straw mulching works like the natural fallen pine needles. They decompose slowly, resist being washed away, and keep the nutrients in the soil.

Examples of inorganic mulches include crushed stone, gravel and volcanic rock. They have a tendency to work their way into the soil. These types are somewhat permanent; you will need to do digging to get them removed.

Plastic mulches should mainly be used for vegetable plots. Irrigation paths can be laid out on the ground beneath the plastic mulching. This will keep the soil moist and the plants well watered. You can also cut holes in the plastic mulching where you want water to go into your vegetable plot.

There is also a type of mulch called geotextiles; it is a fabric mulch made from polypropylene or polyester. This is likely the best type of inorganic mulching to put in your garden; the close woven mulching allows water and fertilizer through, but keeps out the growth of weeds.

Consider placing a mulching compound in your garden for healthier plants. Keep an eye on the weeds that will sneak in; over time this should decrease.

About the Author:

Looking for a way to make your garden and your yard more impressive looking? Garden fountains can make a huge improvement. Visit the Garden Highlights website to learn more about the many types of fountains available.

Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register.