Mulching in the garden is actually a common method with many advantages. But gardening beginners may not know what to do with it yet and are just now becoming interested in the method. What applies if you want to mulch hedges against weeds? Which material is best suited? Do you have to renew the layer at some point and what are the benefits of gardening? We summarize!
What can you mulch a hedge with?
You probably know that there are a number of suitable materials that can generally be used to create a good layer of mulch. But are there perhaps some that are more effective than others when it comes to weed inhibition? Which material is best for mulching?
You are spoiled for choice:Depending on the material, the mulch layer is sometimes more, sometimes less profitable. While some mulching materials have a great decorative effect, others also provide nutrients.
Important:The finer the material, the more it compacts and promotes waterlogging with rot as a result. Accordingly, such mulching materials should not be applied directly to the trunk, but rather at a small distance.
- Bark mulch, the classic among mulching materials
Bark mulch looks good and provides plants with nutrients for a long time as it gradually decomposes - a good long-term fertilizer with additional benefits.
Which hedge plants is it suitable for?
Bark provides a slight acidity so that plants thatthrive in acidic soils, you will feel particularly comfortable with it. These are, for example, all types of conifers (e.g. Thuja) and rhododendrons. But that doesn't mean you can't use bark mulch for other hedge plants, because it only causes slightly acidic soil.
Cocoa shells, which visually resemble bark mulch but decompose more quickly, are also visually attractive. They are a good alternative to bark if you want to mulch your hedge.
- Use grass clippings
The cut grass is very practical during the gardening season because you have it on hand almost on a regular basis and it doesn't cost you anything. If you mulch the hedge with grass clippings, it is important to let them dry first, as the increased moisture can lead to mold growth. For the same reason, this mulching material is only applied on dry days. Apply a thin layer (two to four centimeters is enough), which also means weed protectionnotis all too well granted.
What is practical here is that the grass clippings serve as fertilizer for hedges and especiallyas instant fertilizer, because the material decomposes very quickly and nourishes the hedge plants for a while.
Which hedges benefit most from lawn clippings?
Due to the rapid release of nutrients, they should be hedge plants that also like nutrient-rich soil. These include, among others, cherry laurel, privet, yew and hornbeam.
- Apply straw under hedges
Since straw is a little coarser than hay (the dried grass clippings), you can apply a thicker layer without disturbing the lift circulation or causing waterlogging. It shouldn't be more than 10 centimeters. This also blocks sunlight better from the ground, which is more advantageous than grass clippings when it comes to weed growth.
Which hedge is best to mulch with straw?
As with the mulching materials mentioned above, straw can of course be used for all hedge plants. However, those for whom good ventilation is important are particularly happy and these include, for example, hornbeams, privet, boxwood and yews.
- wood chips
Wood chips, i.e. shredded wood/cuttings, decompose rather slowly. This means that it releases nutrients for a longer period of time. Regarding the layer thickness, proceed as with straw. Also keep your distance from the trunks. The material decomposes relatively slowly and is a good long-term fertilizer.
Use chaff for any hedge plants.
- Apply a layer of gravel
To suppress weed growth, it is recommended to spread stones on weed fleece or geotextile instead of using them to mulch the bare ground around the hedge. Pebbles look attractive and can be beneficial in winter as they heat well in the sun and release this heat into the ground. But this property also has two disadvantages: In summer it can quickly get too hot and moisture can evaporate more quickly and the stones cannot act as fertilizer. Separate fertilization is therefore necessary.
Which hedges benefit from the properties of gravel?
Only use gravel as mulching material if your hedge plants are drought-resistant and elevatedTolerate drought in summer: Lavender, barberry, holly, boxwood and privet, for example. This also applies to plants that prefer to thrive in the shade.
- Other materials
There are a number of other options, but these are visually less suitable for the ornamental garden or are unknown and are therefore usually not chosen for hedges. In general, you could also use wool, leaves, clippings, compost, cardboard,Cones of any kind, use mussel shells or coconut mats. Some of them are rather difficult to find or expensive and unfavorable for use in the garden.
Does mulch actually help reduce weeds?
Mulch regulates soil temperature, meaning it warms the soil in winter and keeps it cool in summer. Moisture is stored, which is particularly beneficial for the plants in summer, so you need to water less. Most materials also function as fertilizers because they decompose.
Something they also have in common is that they greatly reduce weed growth to a certain extent and at a certain point in time, but never completely prevent it. It is the lack of light beneath the material that makes it difficult for weeds, but there are also more stubborn plant species and over time, winds or birds carry seeds onto the mulching material, allowing weeds to form above.
To maximize protection and extend the duration of protection, it is important not only to properly prepare the soil before application, but to renew the material regularly. You can additionally alsoLay weed fleece under the mulch layer.
When should you apply bark mulch etc. and how often should you renew it?
In general, either spring or fall are the best times to apply mulch, but not if weed suppression is your primary goal. Then you should concentrate on spring to suppress growth at the beginning of the season. You should remove all weeds beforehand, otherwise even the mulching material cannot do much to prevent weeds from forming.
How often the layer should be renewed depends entirely on the material. The faster it decomposes, the sooner you have to put out new ones. Just take a look at the hedge every now and then. If you notice an increase in weeds, you can renew the mulch again in the summer (probably even cut the grass more often). You can leave bark mulch until next spring if it is only intended to control weeds. You can also do this in the fall to protect against frost.
Gravel does not need to be replaced because it does not decompose. However, sooner or later you will have to remove it to remove the new weeds, after which you can reuse it.
