Photo by : Maria Sbytova / Shutterstock .

Mulching is crucial to the health and appearance of your yard . This basic garden proficiency , where a bed of material is laid on top of the territory surface , suppresses weeds , keep on wet , and regulates temperature in the antecedent zona . Other benefits of mulch include ascertain H2O runoff and erosion , improving filth tilth , reducing maintenance , and prevent germination of weed seeds . Mulch also add bridle appeal to beds and borders .

The two primary types of mulch are organic and inorganic . Organic mulch are represent of plant materials such as tear up bark , Mrs. Henry Wood chip piece , compost , manure , fallen leaves , grass clipping , straw , and pine needle . Inorganic mulches are torpid materials such as gravel , rock , landscape painting fabric , and plastic . ( See more on thedifferent types of mulch )

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How and when to mulch your yard is just as important as what kind of mulch to use . Here are bakshis on using mulch in your landscape .

HOW TO APPLY MULCH

suss out outthese tips for applying barque mulch .

For organic materials , apply mulch in a 2- to 4 - column inch - deep layer . For a finer mulch such as compost , a 2 - in layer of mulch is sufficient . Coarser materials such as wood chips or straw can be applied up to 4 column inch deep . Inorganic mulch such as gravel or stone can be go for 1 to 2 column inch deep . For wintertime protection in frigid climates , use mulch in thick layers to insulate industrial plant .

Too much mulch can result in root suffocation and difficulty for water and fertiliser to penetrate the soil Earth’s surface . Deeper mulch may also attract pests . Mulch that is apply too thinly may be less effective at controlling widow’s weeds .

Gardener Adding Mulch
“Dream Team’s” Portland Garden
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New York, NY

Use a shovel , pitchfork , or your hands to deal out mulch around industrial plant . scan mulch into an even bed . Use gloves to protect your hands .

When lay mulch , keep it several inches away from plant trunk or crowns to forbid hogwash or stunting of growth , and to discourage pests and disease . check that mulch is 6 to 12 inches out from build foundations .

Do n’t pile mulch over the top of vernal seedlings , as it can strangle plants .

Gardener Adding Mulch
“Dream Team’s” Portland Garden
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New York, NY

Lightly turn constituent mulch sporadically to oxygenise , refresh the appearance , and aid forbid pesterer and disease .

WHEN TO APPLY MULCH

The best time to apply mulch is in spring or fall .

RIGHT MULCH, RIGHT PLACE

The eccentric of mulch to employ depends on the region being mulch and what your finish is . A mulch for trees and bush will be different than a mulch for vegetable plots . Organic mulch will improve soil and plant health , while inorganic mulch provides no soil improvement .

Photo by : Thinglass / Shutterstock .

How much mulch do you need?

Enter depth , width , and length of your area to find out cubic yards , meters , or bags of mulch needed for your projection .

CONSIDERATIONS WHEN CHOOSING & USING MULCH

Here are some thing to consider when using mulch :

PREPARING BEDS FOR MULCHING

Photo by : Ozgur Coskun / Shutterstock .

Take these footstep to make beds before apply mulch :

HOW OFTEN TO REPLACE MULCH

constitutional mulch break down and will need replenishing more oft than inorganic mulch such as rock ‘n’ roll or gem . Finer mulch such as tear up barque , compost , and grass clippings decompose more promptly than chunky wood chips . prominent chips will last longer than smaller pieces .

Replenish mulch when it becomes thin or you see scanty fleck . Finer mulch will need fill again every 1 to 2 year ; larger wood scrap may last several year . Inorganic mulch is intended to be more permanent .

POSSIBLE MULCHING PROBLEMS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

picture by : Lijuan Guo / Shutterstock .

What should I put down before mulching?

For a more foresightful - term root to weed stifling , landscape painting framework can be lay on the dirt surface before apply constitutional or inorganic mulch .

Can I put mulch directly on the ground?

In most case , mulch is laid straight on the soil Earth’s surface . For good weed quelling , open a layer of newspaper or composition board on the grunge Earth’s surface and cover with compost , bark , or other organic stuff .

How do you prepare ground for mulch?

murder locoweed and other rubble and even out the soil Earth’s surface before applying mulch . If the dirt is dry , moisten the area first .

Gardener Adding Mulch
“Dream Team’s” Portland Garden
Shutterstock.com
New York, NY

Mulch Volcano
“Dream Team’s” Portland Garden
Shutterstock.com
New York, NY

Mulch Volcano
“Dream Team’s” Portland Garden
Shutterstock.com
New York, NY

Mulch Calculator
“Dream Team’s” Portland Garden
Garden Design
Calimesa, CA

Mulch Calculator
“Dream Team’s” Portland Garden
Garden Design
Calimesa, CA

Mulch Calculator
“Dream Team’s” Portland Garden
Garden Design
Calimesa, CA

Mulch Calculator
“Dream Team’s” Portland Garden
Garden Design
Calimesa, CA

Adding Mulch To Garden Bed
“Dream Team’s” Portland Garden
Shutterstock.com
New York, NY

Adding Mulch To Garden Bed
“Dream Team’s” Portland Garden
Shutterstock.com
New York, NY

Garden Bed With Mulch
“Dream Team’s” Portland Garden
Shutterstock.com
New York, NY

Garden Bed With Mulch
“Dream Team’s” Portland Garden
Shutterstock.com
New York, NY

Gardener Adding Mulch
“Dream Team’s” Portland Garden
Shutterstock.com
New York, NY

Mulch Volcano
“Dream Team’s” Portland Garden
Shutterstock.com
New York, NY

Adding Mulch To Garden Bed
“Dream Team’s” Portland Garden
Shutterstock.com
New York, NY

Garden Bed With Mulch
“Dream Team’s” Portland Garden
Shutterstock.com
New York, NY