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Mulch & Soils: Welcome
 What
is the Purpose of Mulch?
Mulch is a security blanket for all plants. In the
winter it will insulate the roots and provide adequate moisture during
the summertime heat. Organic mulch will supply nutrients and condition
the soil. Depending on the kind of mulch, you will minimize the amount
of weeds that can develop in the garden. Above all, if attractive, it
will create a more esthetic look to the landscape. It is the frame around
the landscape portrait.
Kinds of Mulch
- Decorative: Attractive and beautifies the landscape
- Utilitarian: Used more for its results than for its
looks
Organic vs. Synthetic
Organic mulches will
be more effective for the heath of the plant over using synthetic mulches.
Remember that all organic mulches will decompose some faster than others,
so it will be necessary to replace it after a period of time.
- Bark: Shredded off of trees at a
lumber mill. After shredded it is grind up into finer size pieces and
screened, which will be easier to work with in the landscape. Bark as
it decomposes will change color:
- Pine/Spruce
- Brown Hemlock: Orange red
- Bark chips or chunks: bark that
has not been shredded
- Straw: Stems and stalks of certain
grasses, used as either a cover crop or the by-product of a food source
for animals.
- Salt Marsh Hay: Harvested off of
salt marshes. Since it is a grass that requires marsh like conditions
to survive it should not germinate in your garden.
- Pine Needles: Plentiful crop available
in the northeast. Having a high concentration of acidity, when applied
will lower the pH in the soil.
- Wood Chips: Branches and
stems from trees that have been trimmed and put through a chipping machine
which are pulverized into small fragments. Wood takes longer to decompose
and can remove nitrogen from the soil. There are two different forms
of mulches sold that are created with wood chips.
- Playground Mulch
- Dyed or colored wood chips
- Peat Moss: Dredged from bogs. Having
the ability to absorb large amounts of moisture. Decomposed peat moss
will greatly improve the soil conditions. When it dries out it can form
a hard crusty mat.
- Cocoa Bean Hull: The by-product
from cocoa of Hershey Pennsylvania. The aroma of chocolate with its
dark color is divine.
- Buckwheat Hulls: Tiny hulls when
sprinkled with water it glitters. Be careful where you may apply this
mulch because it may blow in the wind, when dry. My opinion is this
mulch is best for herb or perennial gardens.
- Compost: Anything that was alive
at one time that has the ability to decompose such as leaves and grass
clippings with the addition of manure sitting in a pile and rotated
occasionally will become over a period of six months the final product
– compost. Excellent soil conditioner and having a dark color
it will be attractive. I doubt it will minimize the weeds in your garden
beds.
- Decorative Stone: Stone has
the ability to disintegrate with the help of temperature, weather and
the seasons ahead. However it will take forever. Stones from different
areas of the country have different colors. Stones can absorb solar
radiation which can create a hot soil, which can burn roots at the surface
or dry out the soil. Sunlight may reflect off light colored stone and
reflect onto the foliage of plants causing desiccation. Weeds can grow
more effectively through stones then any of the other mulches. Stones
can be rough or tumbled to add different textures to the landscape
Synthetic mulch is made by people and it will not usually decompose and
may de detrimental to plants.
- Black Plastic:
Initially used by vegetable growers has been converted in to the home
garden, the landscape bed. When used in the landscape it can harm plants
by not allowing air and water to penetrate the soil.
- Landscape Fabric: Where plastic
does not allow air or water, landscape fabric will. However it does
become inconvenient when additional plantings are necessary. The landscape
fabric must be covered to prevent UV decomposition. It has been ample
to minimize weed growth below it but not on top of it. Bark Mulch with
the landscape fabric will minimize weeds to approximately 90-95%. Mulch
by itself may be 75-85%.
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you have questions mulch or soil questions?
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Use Playground Mulch under your swing set or play area.
Safe for your children and pets. |
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