Mulching is one part of a
three-step process you should follow to help your garden
grow to its fullest potential. (Weeding and edging are the
other two steps). Accomplishing all three tasks on a regular
basis will result in a perennial garden you'll be proud to
call your own, but it will also make tending your garden an
easier job.
Mulch serves more than one purpose - it improves the
appearance of your garden but it also keeps weeds at bay and
holds more moisture in the ground around the plants. If you
really care about creating a healthy, beautiful garden,
organic mulch is even better, as it enriches the soil,
providing much-needed nutrients to the vegetation that
surrounds it.
Certain materials make the best organic mulches: shredded
leaves, dried grass clippings, buckwheat hulls, cocoa
shells, shredded bark or wood chips, and finished compost
are good choices to create an excellent organic mulch.
Shredded leaves and dried glass clippings are, of course,
the least expensive choices and the easiest to obtain. Just
gather them from your backyard! To find the other selections
in the list, visit your local garden center.
Note that not all mulches are created equal. For instance,
mulches composed of wood ingredients (including uncomposted
wood chips) cause the nitrogen levels in soil to drop. As a
result, if you plan on using wood mulches it's a good idea
to compost them before use. In the same vein, be wary of
mulches containing grass clippings, as grass contains high
levels of nitrogen that can burn your plants. Mulches such
as these are viable options, as long as you keep them away
from the plants' stems.
In addition to mulching, remove weeds from your garden, as
they steal valuable nutrients out of the soil, have an
unsightly appearance, and can overpower your plants.
To discourage the growth of weeds, edging is another good
method of control. Edging basically involves constructing a
barrier around your garden so that lawn grasses and other
unwanted growth is hindered. Edging also prevents perennials
from spreading outside of your garden area.
To make your life even easier, include large foliage plants
in your garden so that weeds have less of a chance to
implant in the soil. Weed seeds have trouble germinating in
the shade of large plants. |
