Must Have Mulch

mulch

  [muhlch]

noun

1.

a covering, as of straw, compost, or plastic sheeting, spread on the ground around plants to preventexcessive evaporation or erosion, enrich the soil, inhibit weed growth, etc.

verb (used with object)

2.

to cover with mulch.

Origin: 
1650–60;  noun use of obsolete mulch  (adj.), Middle English molsh  soft, Old English myl ( i ) sc  mellow;cognate with dialectal German molsch  soft, overripe

                                                                                                                                           

I never understood the point or possibilities of adding mulch to my garden, when I first started out. As the years passed, and my gardens continued to grow in square footage, and a small hobby became a passion, I immersed myself in research and found out just how important mulch really is, to your garden. 

Via

Why you need mulch:

1) Mulch retains water and keeps the moisture in, making it easier on you when it comes to watering, and it keeps your plants much happier. 

2) Mulch retains the sun light, and keep your plants warm. Warmth and moisture is a beautiful things when it comes to a prolific garden.

3) Mulch can be an attractive addition to your garden (As if the beautiful fruits of your labor aren't enough!)

4) Mulch, such as grass clippings and brown leaves, break down quickly supplying your plants with plenty of organic carbon.

5) Mulch is a lovely reason to reuse your grass clippings, old leaves, old bark, compost, etc. 

Reuse, reduce, recycle my friends!

Different types of mulch:

1) Shredded bark, this type of mulch breaks down relatively slow and takes nitrogen from the soil as it decomposes, so make sure to use an organic fertilizer to replace the nitrogen. Other than that, this type of mulch is relatively inexpensive and can really add beauty to the ground of your garden!

2) Grass clippings, this type of mulch is great! As it breaks down it adds nitrogen to the soil, which as you may or may not know, nitrogen is very important to any vegetable garden. One thing with grass clippings, make sure its relatively dry before spreading a thin layer on your garden floor, or it will rot as it decomposes. 

3) Compost, this type of mulch is my personal favorite. I love an excuse to reuse my kitchen waste.   Compost has the most nutrients in it, and gives more to the plants than any other type of mulch, and that's why this remains my preferred type of mulch.

There are other types of mulch, but these 3 are the most common and most efficient!

Click here for more information on the useful and efficient mulch!

See the importance of mulch? Start a compost bin this Spring and use it for your garden or buy some at your local garden center!

If you have questions about mulch, or comments, feel free to leave them and I will respond as soon as I can! 

Happy Thursday, friends!