Spring in suburbia is evident from your large piles of mulch that your friends dump in their driveways. While installing mulch seems appearing a simple process, house owners use so much mulch on their landscape beds which create an environment that is detrimental to the health of the plants which they attempt to nurture.
One can’t help but cringe when viewing a ‘volcano’ of mulch installed around a tree. Have a look at will discuss the actual methods of installing mulch and the various types of mulch to use (and not to use).
The function of mulch is always to conserve moisture and inhibit weed boost planting beds and plants. Mulch is also beneficial in regulating soil temperatures; soil will stay cooler in the summer and warmer inside the winter by using a layer of mulch. Organic mulches will also improve the soil quality when they start to break across. Mulch has also be a decorative element in many landscapes. When installing mulch, follow these basic guidelines for your health of one’s plants:
– Organic more than 3-4″ completely of mulch. When re-mulching, keep complete 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 enables become matted. Too much mulch is worse than no thick mulch. Excessive mulch may do dry out the upper root zone of plants and cause plant roots to grow upwards into the mulch.
– Never pile mulch directly to the stem of plants- rather pull the mulch back several inches to generate a mulch-free area surrounding the stem. Mulch piled against the stem of a plant can cause rotting, and invites disease and insect damage.
– Weed barrier under mulch often causes more problems than benefits. The inhibition water and oxygen are two major questions. Also, weeds will eventually root in the mulch and into the weed barrier, causing big problems once the weeds are pulled.
– Be cautious when using processed sewage sludge (Earthlife, Earthmate). While these generally the darkest of mulches, they are also rich in nitrogen and can cause excessive growth and even burning of your plants. The products are best used for a soil amendment in limited quantities. Many tests show these products to contain heavy metals- so keeping it out of your vegetable gardener.
There are many types of mulch available for purchase. Ground up hardwood, bark mulch, and dyed mulches are preferred. Pine bark, Cypress and pine straw are more popular in south. Stone may be also used, it also is more maintenance in the long term with cleaning debris from between stones an international nuisance.
Cheap Georgia Mulch
3000 Trotters Pkwy, Alpharetta, GA 30004
(770) 637-9147