by Alexia Alexandria

Created on: July 04, 2008   Last Updated: May 13, 2011

The easiest way to have a healthy garden free of weeds and pests is to mulch. Mulching is the process of placing a protective layer of inorganic or organic material over soil. The best time to mulch is during the spring when the temperature is not too warm, weeds have not germinated, and small plants are easier to mulch around. Mulching has its benefits:

• Provides a barrier between the soil and the air, moderating soil temperature and keeping moisture in. Mulch acts as an insulating layer, causing the soil to heat up and cool down slower.

• Reduces soil compaction and erosion from rainfall and foot traffic

• Improves soil aeration, fertility, and structure

• Prevents damage and disease to plants from insects, lawn mowers, and weed-whackers

• Provides a barrier against weeds

• Gives all of your plants an attractive appearance

Applying Mulch

You have many options as to what you want to use as mulch. First of all, there are two categories of mulch: organic and inorganic Organic mulch is made up of natural substances such as wood chips, grass, leaves, straw, sawdust, pine needles, and newspaper clippings. Organic mulch conditions the soil with nutrients, reduces erosion, and adds to the soil's texture as it decomposes. Stones, plastic, and synthetic fiber are examples of inorganic mulch. Inorganic mulch is slow to decompose or does not decompose at all. Unlike organic mulch, inorganic mulch does not attract pests. Organic and inorganic mulch each have their advantages and disadvantages. If you want, you can use both so that you will not miss out on the benefits of mulch by choosing one over the other. When applying mulch, please consider the following:

• Before mulching, remove weeds that you find in your planting beds and remove dead plants

• After mulching, water the bed and then add young plants two days later because of the heat from the mulch. Do not water dyed mulch until at least 24 hours after dispersing it

• Till previously mulched plant beds so that water and nutrients can better penetrate

• Peat, decayed vegetative matter, could give heavy soil a lighter texture so that mulch can be applied easier and you can better experience the benefits of mulch

• Place thick mulch (mulch with compost or wood) 3 to 4 inches deep to maintain soil moisture and temperature.

• Renew mulch yearly with 1 to 2 inches to remove buildup and turn and work the mulch

• Mulch lightly for a topsoil barrier; on new plantings 2 to 3 inches

• Experiment with how much to apply inorganic and/or organic mulch

Don't

• Apply mulch deeper than 3 to 4 inches

• Forget to mulch

• Apply mulch against tree trunk because it will cause damage

• Over mulch which can create excess moisture

Learn more about this author, Alexia Alexandria.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.