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The Fine Art of Mulching
Robin Delargy, Vintage Bloomers

I really hate weeds. I also hate weeding, and really don't have enough time and energy to devote to it, so I mulch. I've learned a few things about effective mulching, and I thought I'd pass them on.

Use organic mulch
By 'organic', I mean things that will decompose and become part of your soil, feeding the organisms (beneficial soil bacteria, earthworms etc.) that are necessary for good soil and providing nutrients to your plants. Grow good soil, and you'll grow good plants!

Mulch twice per year
Spring, when the soil warms and weeds begin to emerge, and Fall, before the first frost, to insulate and protect your plant's roots from sudden temperature changes.

Give Weeds the Double Whammy!
Don't pull them – smother them! Don't bother pulling those weeds – smother them!Before laying down your mulch, put a layer of cardboard (or a thick pad of newspapers) down first. You won't need to mulch quite as heavily, and even the toughest weed can't grow through cardboard. By the time the cardboard has decomposed, the weeds are history.

Mulch Smart
If you are using fresh mulch, like fresh wood chips, the decomposition process may pull nitrogen from your soil, making it unavailable to your plants. There are several ways to get around this. You can add granular fertilizer to your beds before mulching, use cardboard first, which breaks down quickly at provides a nutrient layer below the mulch, or you can put down a thickish layer of alfalfa hay before you add your mulch. (Alfalfa is a dynamite mulch in its own right.)

Personally, I prefer to use mulch that's already at least partially composted. I have a load of wood chips delivered after I've done my fall mulching and let it sit over the winter. By spring, it's already well on its way to becoming compost and there's less danger of it generating heat as it decomposes in the flower bed (a too-thick layer can burn plants as it decomposes.) I put down cardboard where needed and mulch about 4" thick, keeping the mulch from touching my roses as much as possible.

If you use irrigation/soaker hoses, thoroughly test and repair your system before applying mulch. It's very difficult to spot leaks or dry spots once your mulch is in place.

Tip: When mulching around small/young plants, put a gallon+ pot or a bucket over the plant while spreading your mulch. When you're finished, gently remove the pot. It makes it much easier to avoid burying those new strawberry plants and emerging spring bulbs.

Regular mulching is one of the greatest gifts you can give your garden. It keeps the competing weeds at bay, provides organic matter and nutrients to your soil, and helps conserve water. It's a much easier way to keep your garden weed-free and looking its best.

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