Garden Mulch: Tips For a Healthy Garden

Using mulch is one of the easiest ways to boost your garden’s production. Mulch helps to retain moisture, suppress weeds, cool down the soil and roots, provide a habitat for nesting bugs and microorganisms, as well as improve the fertility of your soil. In this article, I will discuss the basics of using mulch in the garden.

Garden Mulch: Tips For a Healthy Garden

You will learn about the different types of mulch available for use in the garden. This post will discuss the characteristics of organic mulches, such as straw, wood chips, and compost, as well as inorganic mulches like rubber and plastic.

Additionally, we will provide step-by-step instructions on how to correctly apply mulch in the garden to maximize its benefits, including weed suppression, moisture retention, and soil temperature regulation.

Types of Mulch

There are 2 categories of mulch: organic and inorganic. Organic mulches are made from organic matter, and inorganic mulches are made from synthetic materials (plastic or rubber). Organic mulches are more beneficial to the soil (obviously), but they are less effective at blocking out the weeds.

Inorganic mulches block out the weeds almost perfectly, but they can leach chemicals into the soil overtime. Today I will only be discussing organic mulches, as they are the only ones I recommend.

Organic mulches do the same thing as inorganic, as in retaining moisture and suppressing weeds, as well as fertilizing the soil overtime, and providing nesting grounds for beneficial bugs and microorganisms, like worms and centipedes (yes, I know, centipedes are disgusting, but they are beneficial to the garden). But, organic mulches will have to be replaced every so often as they decompose over time.

It is also good to know the source of your mulch, as you don’t want any weed seeds, salt, or chemicals, as this would completely defeat the purpose of the mulch. 

Bark / Woodchips

Woodchips are best used for trees, shrubs, and other woody perennial plants – a place where there won’t be too much soil disturbance. They are also good for pathways, as well as for growing mushrooms. Woodchips break down very slowly and they last longer than other fine-cut mulches. 

Stay away from woodchips from black walnut, as these contain a compound known as juglone, which is toxic to most garden plants.

Shredded Leaves

Leaves are one of the easiest mulches to obtain (if you live in an area with many deciduous trees). They need to be shredded to prevent them from matting and going anaerobic. They are also great for attracting native beneficial bugs, as it creates the same conditions as a native woodland.

But an argument for leaves better than the rest; they are FREE! They fall every year, and are waiting to be picked up! Just don’t take them from someone else’s property, or from a natural ecosystem. 

Pine Needles

Pine needles have a bad reputation of lowering the pH of garden soil, making it too acidic for vegetables. While they do have the ability to acidify the soil, it would be to no amount that would be harmful to your plants.

Although pine needles don’t fall as readily as leaves, it can be a good free source of mulch if you have many coniferous trees in your area. But again, avoid taking mulch from natural ecosystems.

Grass Clippings

Grass clippings are a fresh, green mulch that can be difficult to incorporate into your garden. It often decomposes too quickly, or mats and becomes anaerobic.

It can also give off a bit of a stench when decomposing. Although, it is another free mulch that many of us get from doing other chores in the yard. The only warning I have is to not use grass that has been sprayed with chemical pesticides or herbicides. 

Paper / Cardboard

Paper mulch is becoming more popular as a way to add fertility with something that most people would put off as garbage. You can even use newspaper; some neighbourhoods still get their newspaper delivered to their door, and it’s a shame having to throw it out because nobody reads it.

You can either shred the paper or cardboard, or you can put down a flat layer of it and add another mulch on top of it. Just be careful of shredded paper blowing in the wind. 

Straw

Considered by many gardeners to be the best mulch, straw has a high albedo (lighter in colour and reflects more light), retains a lot of moisture, is very lightweight, is easy to source and often weed-free, provides housing for many beneficial bugs and microorganisms, adds a lot of fertility, and stays in its place in the wind.

There’s really not much more to say, other than you will probably have to buy it (unless you grow your own wheat, of course). Straw is the ideal mulch for the vegetable garden. 

Sawdust

An honourable mention goes out to sawdust, which can be used but is not a great mulch. It will blow away quickly, it will go anaerobic, and it will most likely just create a big mess. But if you decide to use sawdust, follow the same principles as the woodchips.

You can also check out our post on how to use sawdust in the garden.

Applying Mulch

Timing

The best time to apply mulch to your garden is in the spring, when there is still a chance of seasonal rains. These rains will help to settle the mulch, and prevent it from blowing away in the wind.

Another good time is the fall, as this helps to insulate your plants over winter. But if you are doing it during the summer or winter, time the laying of the mulch just before a rainy day, as this will allow the mulch to settle into the garden.

Laying Mulch

Wait for all of your plants to be at a reasonable height, as you don’t want to cover them. Remove all the weeds, moisten the soil, and apply a thick (2 – 3″) layer of mulch. Water to settle it in. Keep the mulch away from the stems of your plants, as this will increase the chance of them rotting. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Even More Gardening Ideas

Here are a few more posts to get the ball rolling in your garden!

• 5 Best Edible Flowers for Your Garden
• The 10 Most Fragrant Flowers for Your Garden
• Nasturtium: The Garden Must-Have

Products:

For organic, non-GMO garden seeds, check out SeedsNow.

For gardening equipment, check out Bootstrap Farmer.

For organic all-purpose fertilizers, check out Arber.

Conclusion

Incorporating mulch into your gardening routine can benefit your plants in numerous ways, from retaining moisture to suppressing weeds. By following the tips and techniques outlined in this guide, you can enhance the health and beauty of your garden while minimizing maintenance tasks.

Experiment with different types of mulch to find what works best for your specific needs and enjoy a thriving garden all season long. Happy gardening!

If you want to learn more about gardening, foraging, nature, and sustainability, check out The Real Gardener on Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest. 

Pin this post for later:

---