How to Use Garden Mulch

Choose the right garden mulch for your job. Some factors to consider include:

• Purpose: Do you want weed control? To cover the path? To reduce the rate of water evaporation? All are valid reasons, and each requires a different approach.
• Availability: Can you use things that are already in the yard, such as freshly cut grass or fallen leaves, or do you have to purchase mulch?
  

  

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• Absorbency: Plastic mulch can prevent weeds but also prevent water from seeping down.
• Biodegradability: Do you want the mulch to decompose and become soil (bark, leaves, shavings) or non-biodegradable (stone, plastic, rubber, glass gravel)?
  

  

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• Appearance: Will the mulch be the highlight of the landscape in front of the house or simply to cover the vegetable garden over the winter?

Prepare the coating area. Do what you want to do before you put on the topcoat.

• Weed or mow close to the base if you plan to use garden mulch to control weeds. Although not required, this step will help bring the mulch and everything underneath it down and reduce the rate at which weeds grow. Remember that mulch can deter weeds by blocking light from entering.
• Add nutrients and till the soil if you plan to do this. Biodegradable mulch can become loose and fertile soil without you having to take this step, but the decomposition process will take time.
• Place any materials such as garden mulch underneath the mulch. Try adding layers of newspaper or cardboard (with tape and box labels removed) if you want to use a biodegradable mulch to prevent weeds.
• Create a contour or border.
  

  

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Find the coating material.

• You can collect mulch for free by volunteering to clean up leaves or trash in your neighbor’s yard.
• You can buy mulch in large bags at most garden centers and nurseries. If you use a lot, you can ask to buy in bulk, maybe even ask for delivery. And of course you can collect your own mulch from the garbage in your garden.
• Some communities collect yard waste, shred it, and give it to residents for mulch or compost. You can ask your local authority about this or ask them to run a similar program.
  

  

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• Call a tree cutting service in your area. Many services will come and leave a pile of tree debris on your doorstep. If you choose this way, you need to be prepared for a large amount of material. While it doesn’t look as good as shredded bark or other decorative coatings you can buy, it’s still a good garden mulch.

Transfer the coating material to where it needs to be. Many gardeners will be happy to help you load the vehicle. If traveling by bicycle or on foot, you should bring a small trailer to take home. When you get home, you can use a wheelbarrow to transport the material to the area to be covered. If you don’t have a wheelbarrow, try loading a portion of it onto a wheeled trash can or trolley. If the quantity is small, you can use an empty bucket or potted plant.

Apply a thick coating. The thickness of the mulch is important if you want to retain moisture and prevent weeds. Try to apply at least 5-10 cm thick coating.

• You should not apply mulch close to the trunk. Leave a small space (10-15 cm) to allow the plant to ‘breathe’ and prevent water evaporation or waterlogging.
• Depending on the garden, you can use mulch to create a water tank.

Use a rake to spread the coating material into a flat layer. Instead of spreading too much over the surface, you should only spread a layer of mulch about 3 cm thick. Thicker coatings can be harmful, and thinner coatings are not as effective.

Pull out the mulch if you want to grow new plants.

Reapply organic mulch every few years, as the mulch will break down and scatter around. You can either mix the old mulch into the soil and let it continue to decompose, or simply apply new mulch on top of the old.