Using proper mulch can help save water, insulate the soil from extreme temperatures, prevent nutrient leaching and limit weed growth. Additionally, decorative mulch can add color to the dull areas between one plant and another. Mulching is a pretty straightforward process, but it's helpful to know a little bit of detail to maximize the benefits.
Steps
Step 1. Choose an appropriate mulching material for your needs
To guide your choice you will need to consider:
- Scope. Want to mulch to limit weeds? To cover a path? To reduce evaporation? Each of these reasons is plausible and each requires different applications.
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Image Fallen leaves make great mulch and are very easy to find. Availability. Can you use organic matter already on your property, such as grass clippings or fallen leaves, or do you have to buy it?
- Permeability. A layer of plastic will block weeds, but could create waterlogging problems.
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Image Mulch consisting of blue and green glass pieces. Biodegradability. Or do you not want the mulch to disintegrate and enter the soil structure (e.g. wood chips, straw or leaves)? Do you prefer a permanent mulch (e.g. rock, plastic or glass)?
- Appearance. Is the mulch intended for a decorative area, or for a simple home garden for winter cover?
Step 2. Prepare the area
If you need to do any processing before mulching, now is the right time to do it.
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Image A brush cutter, a concrete alternative for weeding Carefully tear or cut weeds, if the mulching is aimed at controlling them. While not strictly necessary, it will help the mulch to stay compact, slowing the regrowth of the grass that is covered. Remember, mulching prevents grass growth by not letting light through.
- Enrich the soil and spade the flower beds if you plan to do so: the mulch will break down, leaving a soil rich in organic matter and particularly loose without intensive tillage (obviously it will take some time).
- Lay anything you wish to keep under the mulch such as non-woven or plastic. Try adding several layers of newspaper or cardboard, but remove labels and tape first) if you want a biodegradable wall against weeds.
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Image A raised vegetable garden covered in mulch. Place any edges or borders.
Step 3. Get the mulch
- You may be able to harvest mulch for free, by asking your neighbors, or just helping them "get rid" of the leaves or other organic residue stacked up.
- You can buy mulch in bulk packs at most specialty stores or at the nearest farmhouse. Of course, you can also get it from your garden cuttings.
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Image A mulch of bio-shredded organic residues. In some areas, organic residues are collected, shredded and offered to residents as mulch or compost: ask your municipality if a similar service is activated, and if not, try organizing a similar process.
- Contact a sawmill near you. They may have to get rid of large quantities of shredded or chipped wood. In this case, be prepared to harvest a lot of biomass, not particularly "pretty" but certainly effective.
Step 4. Carry the mulch wherever you need it
In many shops and farms they will help you load mulch into the car. Once you get home, use a fork or shovel to move the mulch to a wheelbarrow or directly into the open field.
Step 5. Apply a generous layer of mulch
Mulch depth is a key element for moisture retention and weed control. The minimum thickness should not be less than 5-10 cm.
- Do not mulch near the shoots and the trunk of the plants. Leave a small margin (10-15 cm) to let the plant breathe, avoiding water stagnation and attracting slugs.
- Depending on the size of your garden, you can use mulch to create a water catchment basin.
Step 6. Spread the mulch by hand or with a rake to form an even layer
Step 7. At the time of sowing or transplanting it will be sufficient to move the mulch to the desired point
Step 8. Renew the organic mulch every few years when it has degraded and entered the soil
You can speed up decomposition by burying the old mulch with a spade or, more simply, you can lay the new layer of mulch directly on top of the old one.
Step 9. Overwinter some plants by pruning them and covering them completely with mulch
The insulation resulting from it will protect them from winter, but will be eliminated with the arrival of spring.
Advice
- Instead of tearing one end of the bag and emptying the mulch as with corn flakes, place the bag horizontally, and engrave it in the middle of the long side and turn it upside down, lifting the bag: in this way you will be able to handle the bags more easily and quickly. bigger.
- If you are placing a plastic layer under the mulch, be sure to mulch a lot to block out the light, as many types of plastics degrade when reached by ultraviolet rays. Also remember that the impermeability of the plastic could change the drainage capacity of the soil.
- Any mulch left in bags or heaps could start to decompose or rot, especially in oxygen starvation. If this happens, open it up, spread it out and leave it in the open air for a few days or weeks before adding it to your garden. The color may change but, in general, it shouldn't be a problem. To avoid issues, remember to apply mulch right away.
Warnings
- Eliminate diseased plants and don't mulch them in compost - you could create a new problem or increase an existing one.
- Thorny plants become even more prickly after drying out: unless you want to keep animals (or someone else) away, don't use roses or brambles to mulch.
- Be careful when using easily propagated plants as mulch, remembering to let them dry well before use. Plants such as mint or ivy will soon become a problem, invading the whole garden, unless they are well dried beforehand. It would be preferable to also eliminate weeds or other plants that have gone to seed.
- Be careful when lifting. Use a cart, wheelbarrow or ask for help if needed.
