How To Garden With Mulch [Step-By-Step Guide]

This clause was reexamine bySteve Snedeker , professional landscaper .

Mulching is an important step to protect the soil and plant ' roots from damage . If you mulch wrong , you’re able to prevent nutrients from reaching the soil . If you ’re odd about how to mulch your garden properly , you ’re in the correct piazza . We ’ve carry on thorough research and can tell you the necessary step !

As you may see , putting mulch in your garden is a square process ! Keep reading to learn more about each step , the unlike type of mulch , and more !

How To Apply Mulch

To use mulch aright , you ’ll need to bang what type you ’re using and how stocky of a bed to apply . The exact thickness of mulch can variegate based on the kind you ’re using , your plants , and the time of year .

1. Select Mulch

you could either apply organic or inorganic mulch in your garden . Inorganic mulch is splendid for controlling pests and widow’s weeds . It can also help add a cosmetic papa to your landscape painting .

Unfortunately , gloomy inorganic mulch tends to heat the soil more than regular mulch . It also does n’t necessarily add any nutritionary benefit like organic mulch can . Some materials for inorganic mulch include rocks , gravel , rubber , and fabric .

Organic mulch is natural and will break down over time . This type of mulch includes straw , compost , and Sir Henry Wood chips . Using constituent mulch is an excellent way of life to contribute nutrient to the territory over time and control the soil ’s moisture .

Both eccentric of mulch are acceptable to apply in any garden . However , deciding whether you find pestilence control or water keeping more important is essential . Once you decide this , you should be able to determine the best mulch for your thousand .

Check out this India rubber mulch on Amazon .

Take a look at this stubble mulch on Amazon .

2. Calculate The Amount Needed

For the most part , you should endeavor to avoid applying mulch in layers thicker than 3 inches . apply mulch in fatheaded layer can forestall water from reaching the soil underneath . However , you should n’t be open it too fragile , either . If you do n’t put enough , you may still get pot .

You ’ll also need to take into considerateness the type of mulch when decide how much to lie down . In cosmopolitan , fine materials do n’t require as boneheaded of a layer .

To calculate how much mulch to repose down , you should manifold the square footage to be comprehend by the depth in inches . Divide your resolution by 12 , and then divide that by the bag sizing in cubic infantry . The solution you get will tell you thenumber of bagsyou’ll need .

A undivided bag with two cubic feet of mulch can cut across between 24 straight feet and 6 straight feet , depending on how thick you want it . you’re able to also solve in three-dimensional yards . If you breed the square footage by the desire depth in inch and divide the answer by 324 , you get the cubic yards of mulch you ’ll need .

Regardless of how you calculate it , always ensure you ’re working in the correct building block . you’re able to also duplicate - check your oeuvre with an online calculator .

3. Prepare The Area

You ’ll need to net the country of any dust before putting mulch down . If potential , kill any weeds with a chemical substance killer two weeks before laying mulch . you may also deplume weeds by mitt . However , you should be careful to remove the intact root system . leave roots behind can allow weeds to grow despite the layer of mulch .

It ’s also a good idea to trim Tree and shrubs in the area being mulch . Next , you should scan away any leaves or trimming . After the orbit is light , you could till the first few inches of soil . Loosening the soil can be very important , especially with heavy clay soil .

Finally , you should border the area where you want to put mulch . You do n’t want mulch splatter onto walk or the eatage . For crisp edges , you could use a string to place out where you require to make your edges .

Then , use an edge shovel to take shit from that personal line of credit . You should try out to cultivate slowly and cautiously . The moulding you make will prevent weeds and grass from grow into your garden bed .

Check out this edging shovel on Amazon .

4. Plant

If you have any ejaculate to sow or plants to transplant , you should do it before you mulch . Doing it before will serve you to avoid getting any mulch into the muddle you fag for the plant .

Be careful mulching over seedling . A heavy layer of mulch over seeds may forbid the plant life from germinate properly . It ’s safe to use a thinner layer over newfangled seeds or to avoid mulching directly over them until they stock .

you’re able to still put new plants into the garden if you ’ve already applied mulch . You ’ll postulate to empty the mulch off so you could put the seeds straight off into the soil . Then , cover the seeds with the right amount of dirt and a slender bed of mulch .

For the most part , you ’ll want to head off planting seeds into mulch . They wo n’t get the same nutrients as they would in soil or compost . to boot , the mulch is more likely to stop the sun from getting to the seed .

Want more information ? check over out this post : How To Plant After Mulching

5. Mulch

There are a twosome of different ways to spread mulch around your garden . First , you’re able to disperse it around by hand . This way gives you slightly less controller , and it may be harder to control how blockheaded you layer the mulch .

Another method is to put small piles of mulch throughout the berth you want it to be . Then , take a rake and fan out the mulch into a layer on the ground . you could also use your hands to create uniform layer . Using your hands can be more good if you ’re work at the edges or around plant .

When propagate mulch , remember that you should n’t put it too close to trees , bushes , and your habitation . Treerootscangrow intomulch which can stimulate wrong . In addition , mulch can conceal decompose damage and can make it easy for bugs to get into the home .

Can your mulch attract pests ? Check out this mail : Does Mulch Attract Termites ? [ And how to protect your home ]

As long as there are n’t any sess or seedlings to vex about , you’re able to disperse mulch straight over the soil without any preparation . However , your garden may benefit if you till the soil and amend it .

When you till the soil , you typically break it up and mix it up to 12 inches mysterious . Doing this can be especially helpful with clay dirt , novel garden beds , or heavily traveled area .

It is usually up to you whether or not you remove mulch each year .   Organic mulch will disclose down after a few years . So , you do n’t necessitate to remove one-time mulch , but you may have to put back it every few years .

Inorganic mulch will postulate to be replace sometimes . You should put a new layer down when your old mulch looks like it ’s fall behind color .

You may also want to get rid of some constitutive mulch if you ’re commute the kind you ’re using . In this instance , remove old mulch will help oneself keep your garden look uniform . If you resolve to remove old mulch , you should move it into a compost pile to decompose .

6. Water

you may choose to skip water the billet you mulched . However , water the area can help the mulch settle onto the soil . Watering will also be helpful for any seeds or newfangled industrial plant in the domain , especially if you ’re applying mulch in the spring .

If you ’re apply mulch later in the time of year , your garden can still gain from some lachrymation . So , you should still consider tearing , particularly if you have novel plants or if the time of year has beendrierthan usual .

How To Mulch With Newspaper In Vegetable Garden?

If you have extra newspaper around , you’re able to employ them to mulch with . You should prepare the orbit as you would for mulch . Then , lay the newsprint down in layer of around five sheet . Water the paper to help prevent them from vanish off .

you could cover the paper with a thin layer of topsoil or some organic mulch , like straw . call back to leave some space between the newspaper and your plants . Newspapers can well repress weeds and any unexampled seedling .

Another option is to put the newspaper layer down , observe by surface soil , and then finish by putting seeds into the top level . Over clip , the newspaper will disclose down . This will allow the beginning to continue growing down while still regulating the amount of water in the earth .

When To Apply Mulch

You should place mulch in the spring before planting new seed . The second option is to mulch during the fall , powerful after the first hard freeze . You do n’t require to lay mulch too betimes in the fall ; otherwise , you wo n’t be able to regulate the temperature .

In Closing

you could easily lay mulch whether or not you already have plants out . Just remember to net away any weeds and to not over - mulch area with tree or new seeds .