Spring in suburbia is evident via the large piles of mulch that other people dump in their driveways. While installing mulch seems appearing a simple process, property owners use so much mulch on their landscape beds that they create an environment that is detrimental to the health of the plants which they try to nurture.
One can’t help but cringe when viewing a ‘volcano’ of mulch installed around a tree. Take a look at will discuss right methods of installing mulch and the various types of mulch to use (and not to use).
The purpose of mulch is to conserve moisture and inhibit weed development in planting beds and timber. Mulch is also valuable in regulating soil temperatures; soil will stay cooler typically the summer and warmer your past winter using a layer of mulch. Organic mulches may improve the soil quality when he break across. Mulch has also be a decorative element in many countryside. When installing mulch, follow these basic guidelines for your health of the plants:
– Never use more than 3-4″ thorough of compost. When re-mulching, keep the overall depth under 4″ and consider even 2-3″ as plenty. Collect old mulch if necessary, or not less than break inside the old mulch if as well as become matted. Too much mulch is worse than no compost. Excessive mulch may be deprived of water the upper root zone of plants and cause plant roots to grow upwards in the mulch.
– Never pile mulch directly around the stem of plants- rather pull the mulch back several inches to produce a mulch-free small area around the root. Mulch piled against the stem of a plant produces rotting, and invites disease and damage from insects.
– Weed barrier under mulch often causes more problems than benefits. The inhibition of water and oxygen are two major criteria. Also, weeds will eventually root into the mulch and into the weed barrier, causing big problems once the weeds are pulled.
– Use caution when using processed sewage sludge (Earthlife, Earthmate). While these typically the darkest of mulches, they will also rich in nitrogen and should cause excessive growth nicely burning of one’s plants. Make use of are best used for a soil amendment in limited quantities. Many tests show these products to contain heavy metals- so keep it out of the vegetable garden.
There are many types of mulch available. Ground up hardwood, bark mulch, and dyed mulches are all popular. Pine bark, Cypress and pine straw will popular a south. Stone may also be used, but it is more maintenance in the long term with cleaning debris from in between the stones an additional nuisance.
Cheap Georgia Mulch
3000 Trotters Pkwy, Alpharetta, GA 30004
(770) 637-9147