Mulching
Mulching offers several advantages, the greatest being
conservation of soil moisture. Evaporation of water is greatly
reduced when the soil is protected from the direct rays of the
sun and moving air. Also, rain falling on the mulch does not
pack tile soil surface and, at the same time, erosion is
eliminated.
A second important advantage of a mulch is the control of
weeds. A mulch greatly reduces the need for weeding, and if a
mulch is used with a weed killer that kills weeds before
germination, the benefit will be even greater. It is especially
important to mulch rather than cultivate shallow-rooted plants
such as rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias.
Controlling soil temperature is another plus for mulching.
Lower and more uniform soil temperatures in summer favor
beneficial bacterial activity in the soil. High summer
temperatures may injure these microorganisms as well as the
roots near the surface of the soil. In winter, frost penetration
is less likely to occur in a mulched area. Evergreens must
absorb moisture in the winter as well as summer; therefore, a
winter mulch may prevent the soil water from freezing and
becoming unavailable to plants.
Organic matter used as a mulch can improve soil structure and
tilth. As it decays the mulch material works down into the
topsoil. Decaying mulch also adds nutrients to the soil.
Mulching material, such as pine bark or pine needles,
improves the appearance of the garden. It is valuable for
covering beds near the house or in areas where neatness is
important.
Disadvantages of Mulching
There are a few disadvantages to mulching. First, the cost of
some materials can be a draw-back to large-scale mulching. Also,
some mulches are not readily available.
When using sawdust and straw as a mulch, nitrogen starvation
sometimes occurs, but this is easily corrected by using
additional nitrogen.
MULCHING MATERIALS
| Material |
Depth to Apply |
Remarks |
| Rotted Manure |
1 to 2 inches |
May contain weed seeds. |
| Sawdust Wood
Chips
Wood Shavings |
1 to 2 inches 3 to 5
inches
2 to 3 inches |
Low in plant nutrients.
Decomposes slowly. Tends to pack down. Well-rotted
materials preferred. Can be fresh if ammonium nitrate or
sodium nitrate is supplemented at the rate of 1 pound
per 100 square feet. Keep away from building
foundations; attract termites. |
| Peat Moss |
1 to 2 inches |
Attractive. Available but
expensive for large areas. Should be kept moist at all
times. |
| Ground Corn
Cobs |
2 to 3 inches |
Excellent for improving
soil structure. |
| Pine Needles |
3 to 6 inches |
Will not mat down. Fairly
durable. |
| Peanut Hulls
Cotton Screenings
Shredded Tobacco Stems |
2 to 3 inches 2 to 3
inches
2 to 3 inches |
Supplies plant nutrients
and improves soil structure. Fairly durable. May contain
nematodes. |
| Whole Tree
Leaves Shredded Tree Leaves |
6 inches 2 to 3 inches |
Excellent source of humus.
Rots rapidly. High in nutrients. Oak leaves especially
valuable for azaleas, camellias and rhododendrons. |
| Hay Grass
Clippings |
6 inches 1 to 2 inches |
Unattractive but repeated
use builds up reserve of available nutrients which lasts
for years. |
| Straw |
6 inches |
Same as above, but lower
in nutrients although furnishes considerable potassium. |
| Pecan Hulls |
1 to 2 inches |
Extremely durable.
Availability limited. |
| Gravel Stone
Chips |
1 to 2 inches 1 to 2
inches |
Limited use but
particularly good for rock garden plantings. Extremely
durable; holds down weeds but does not supply plant
nutrients or humus. |
| Newspaper |
1 inch |
Good in open woodland,
particularly under pines, to control weed growth. Should
be covered with pine needles to improve appearance and
prevent scattering. |
| Plastic Film |
1 layer |
Expensive. Spread over
entire shrub bed area. Conserves moisture and prevents
weed growth. Place other mulches (bark) over plastic
film for attractive appearance. |
| Bark |
1 to 2 inches |
Ground and packaged
commercially. Especially attractive in this form. |
- As a complete landscape design company
we can handle any landscaping need. Call us for landscape
design, EP Henry patio's, walkways, walls, and all your
outdoor needs!
- Telephone
- 610-436-1810 West Chester
- 610-328-6051 Springfield
- FAX
-
610-436-1810
- Postal address
- PO Box 0355 West Chester, PA 19381
- Electronic mail
- Webmaster:
steveanddave@ckclandscapinginc.com
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