What is mulching? The word appears again and again in gardening books, magazines and forums. Today we will try to explain the term to you and give you a few tips. We also answer questions about how it actually works and when you should mulch lawns and beds. Mulching can make your garden even more beautiful and well-maintained. It is said to improve soil quality and has many benefits that cannot be overlooked.
Mandifferentiates between mulchas a protective blanket for the garden soil and mulching when mowing the lawn. Layers of mulch bring many benefits and improve the soil so that you can enjoy well-kept lawns and beautifully flowering beds.
When mulching, the cut grass blades are not collected and removed, but are used as natural fertilizer for the lawn. This way you can save yourself the expensive artificial fertilizer. Organisms that live in the soil can develop better and benefit the lawn. Thanks to mulching, the important nutrients that the lawn has removed from the soil are replenished. Special mowers are used for this. Thanks to your second cutting unit, you can chop the clippings very finely and only then distribute them again on the lawn. The grass clippings then have no lumps and can be spread easily.
The right time when mowing mulch is crucial for optimal results. The grass must be dry to avoid clumping. Otherwise, the grass clippings will remain on the lawn and can damage the grass underneath. In spring the lawn begins to grow lushly. When it reaches a height of approx. 10 centimeters, you can cut the lawn for the first time. End of May/beginning of June, which means early summer, is the perfect time. The cutting height should not be less than 40 mm. Mulch mowing is often seen as a time-saving solution, but it's not quite that way. To achieve the desired result, the lawn must be cut two to three times a week. The good news is that mowing doesn't take long and you don't have to empty the grass catcher regularly. In midsummer, 1 course per week or even less is sufficient.
Mulch materials
- Mulch with leaves and grass clippings– these variants are considered organic mulch because they rot naturally and also enrich the soil with nutrients. Well suited for berry bushes, strawberries and fruit trees. The grass clippings can be up to 1-2 cm thick, otherwise they will clump together and form a dense layer, which will harm the air-gas exchange in the soil.
- with bark mulch or wood chips– These are currently in great demand and can be purchased as small or large schnitzels from the garden center. A mulch layer of bark or wood chips should not be thicker than 5 cm. Not suitable for strawberry plants, raspberry bushes, vegetable and softwood plants.
- With straw– It is cheap and easy to handle. Needs simultaneous nitrogen fertilization. Best suited for strawberries. Only use straw that has not been treated with straw-shortening agents.
- with sawdust– practical alternative to straw with similar properties
- With pine needles– Needle mulch can be used for acid-loving garden plants. These include hydrangeas, lavender, snow heath and rhododendron. The needles allow water to flow through and rot very slowly.
- Leaves of comfrey and nettle– These leaves are another excellent mulching material. When the leaves decompose, large amounts of potassium and nitrogen as well as silicon are released. This practically fertilizes the soil additionally. The humus quality is also improved. You can also cut and use this material again and again throughout the spring. The comfrey and nettle leaves decompose quickly. For this reason, there is no need to apply a thicker layer and re-mulch several times.
- With vegetable scraps– You are welcome to simply leave any waste that falls off when digging. Carrots, radishes, lettuce, cabbage and radishes are good material provided they are not infested with pests.
Benefits and myths
- helps against moss in the lawn– Moss often occurs when grasses lack nutrients. Mulch promotes microorganisms and other organisms in the soil that enrich the soil quality.
- against weeds –A 7-10 centimeter layer of mulch is considered effective weed protection. Before mulching, you should clear the soil of weeds such as couch grass and groundweed. If they grow through the layer, they will be even more difficult to remove. If you use a fine cattle mulch, it is best to only apply a thinner layer so that the oxygen exchange in the soil is not impaired.
- against snails?– Wet mulch is a paradise for snails. It is repeatedly reported that bark mulch attracts snails, so you should think carefully about its use. Dry mulch such as straw and mulch made from lavender, rosemary, thyme or other aromatic plants can serve as protection from the critters.
- Protection from extreme weather conditions– The mulch cover protects the cultivated soils from excessive heat caused by solar radiation. It also protects against strong winds, drying out or washing away due to heavy rains. Over the course of the day, mulched soils show a balanced temperature and significantly fewer frost days.
When bedsmulchin the garden?
- in spring– In summer the soil can become too warm and dry, so it is recommended to mulch in May. In a wet summer, however, the mulch can become a true snail paradise.
- In autumn– Mulching in the fall is particularly useful as it keeps the soil warm throughout the winter. In spring, however, vegetables need warmth to grow again and the ground should be able to warm up. Therefore, the bed should be mulched again after winter.
When mulching, nitrogen is removed from the soil because the microorganisms need it to break down the mulch material. Therefore, the beds should definitely be fertilized beforehand. Best with nitrogen fertilizer, horn meal or guano.
If your garden is on a slope, it often happens that the layer slips a little after it rains. Some believe that the planting can simply take over the task of bark mulch, while others opt for other alternatives - terracing the steep slope with wooden boards, using snow guard fences or mats under the bark mulch.
- Cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant and peppers –These heat-loving vegetables like higher soil temperatures, so a layer of mulch is recommended.
- Potatoes -According to reports from gardeners, mulching with straw works well when growing potatoes. However, the mulch layer should be at least 20 centimeters thick if you want to avoid piling it up completely.
Mulching paper and mulching film are also useful in the vegetable garden.
Bark mulch has a negative impact on some herb beds because it retains moisture. Mediterranean herbs that love dry, sandy soils, such as lavender, rosemary, thyme and sage, are better kept mulch-free or roots only covered with gravel. However, the mulch could have a positive effect on parsley, chives, etc.
Mulch is not recommended for young trees because it takes away many nutrients from the soil. In the orchard, however, it can protect the soil from drying out in the heat and have a fertilizing effect.
Apple trees need protection from the cold, which is why you should cover the ground with a layer of mulch from November to January. The mulch can be removed from March. In the summer from June onwards, a thin layer is useful to protect against drying out. Mulching can also be used here.
Beds with ornamental grasses are often covered with gravel or bark mulch. This prevents weeds from germinating.
The mulch under hedge plants stores moisture in the soil, keeps the trees warm and prevents weeds from spreading. For boxwood, privet hedges, thuja and other conifers Bark mulch, grass clippings and leaves prove to be very effective.
- Hydrangeas –Mulch can promote the healthy growth of hydrangeas. It keeps the soil moist, keeps weeds away and provides the plant with nutrients. Leaf and needle compost are best suited for acid-loving hydrangeas.
- Clematis –Clematis, like all climbing plants, love to have the base in the shade and the head in the sun. That's why mulching clematis proves to be useful. This keeps the soil moist and the roots are protected.
- Can you mulch roses?– It is better to avoid mulching rose beds. Since roses are often attacked by fungi, the diseased leaves that fall to the ground must be picked up and disposed of. This would be really difficult with a thick layer of mulch. Pathogens can also overwinter in the mulch bed and cause problems every year.
- Dahlias– In areas with mild winters, you cannot dig up the dahlia tubers, but rather cut off the stems and insulate them with a thick layer of mulch. However, others advise against it because mulch retains moisture, which can lead to tuber rot.
Since almost all berry bushes have shallow roots, it is recommended to protect them from drying out with a layer of mulch. After the Ice Saints is the right time for this. The mulch layer will also suppress weeds.
Can you mulch raspberries? With bark mulch yes or no?Bark mulch is considered a good cover for raspberries because it rots slowly and acts as a natural fertilizer. Weeds can hardly grow underneath. The mulch should be applied in autumn. Other materials that work well include straw, compost and grass clippings. Before mulching raspberries, currants and gooseberries, it is recommended to spread a layer of compost under the plants in May and only mulch later in the summer.
It is best to mulch strawberries after flowering with straw instead of bark mulch or grass clippings. The material keeps the fruits clean, dries quickly and is broken down into humus by soil organisms. Snails don't feel comfortable in dry straw either. Mulching protects the strawberry plants from pests, weeds and temperature fluctuations. A good alternative to straw is wood chips. Before mulching, you must pull weeds in the strawberry bed and carefully clear the mulching material of various weeds. Spread a layer of mulch by hand that is no higher than 3-5 cm.
