• Organic Mulches
• Choosing Mulches
• Applying Mulches
• Obtaining Mulch

Last Updated: 10/13/04

Some valuable organic mulches may be obtained from:

• Straw or Hay
• Wood Chips
• Weeds
• Newspapers
• Compost
• Sawdust
• Pine Needles
• Leaves
• Aged Manure
• Evergreen Boughs
• Grass Clippings
• Bark Chips

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Mulches accomplish a variety of garden maintenance chores to enhance the growth of plants, from the tiniest flower or vegetable to the largest shade tree. Benefits of mulches include:

• Reduce up to 90% of the water lost through evaporation from the soil.
• Maintain a more even soil temperature, keeping it cool in the summer and warmer in the winter.
• Control annual weeds, since weed seeds require sunlight in order to germinate - that's why you never see crab grass growing in a shady lawn area.
• Prevent wind and water erosion by not allowing rain, snow or wind from coming in direct contact with the soil surface.
• Help to prevent soil depletion. Growing plants in the same area for many years depletes the soil of the necessary organic matter. Many organic mulches break down within a few months to the point where they can be incorporated into the soil structure.

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Inorganic mulches (derived from some inanimate objects such as gravel, pebbles, plastic, etc.) can be used but contribute nothing to enrich the soil.

Organic mulches on the other hand, were originally some type of plant or plant part and will eventually decompose and become part of the soil structure. Using organic mulches, many of which can be found on your property, is one way to keep yard waste out of a landfill, saving tax dollars while helping the environment.

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Most mulches are applied about two inches thick but keep in mind that as they decompose and become a part of the soil structure, additional material will have to be added on a regular basis.

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