How to Get the Most out of Your Mulch

It’s that time of year: mulching season. With new plants taking root and weeds on the rise, June offers the ideal window to mulch and protect your garden for the season ahead.

Applying mulch might seem as simple as buying a few bags and spreading it around your plants. But when used thoughtfully, mulch does much more – it can be a powerful tool to support plant health and help you get the most out of your garden.

Why mulch?

No matter the type of mulch, there are several key functions it performs.

On the surface (pun intended), mulching will insulate plants. For several different types of plants, it is crucial to lock in moisture when it is young. This is especially true for tree saplings, such as Red Maple Seedlings. This insulation is also particularly useful for protecting plant roots during the cold winter months. This helps perennials, trees, and shrubs to thrive even in dormancy. During the growing season, mulch is absolutely necessary to prevent pesky weeds from taking over the garden. Mulch, when applied correctly, provides a thick layer that blocks sunlight. This prevents weeds from ever even germinating – so you can spend significantly less time doing this chore!

Most mulches are made up of rich organic materials.

Most mulches are made up of rich organic materials. Because mulch naturally breaks down over time, critical nutrients eventually seep into the ground below, enriching the quality of the soil. This is good news for all types of gardens!

An important value add-add to include here is that mulch will elevate the visual appeal of any garden. It will help to add a more even texture (a slight leveling-effect) to the ground and unify the overall landscape. Mulch can come in all sorts of colors, so it can fulfill aesthetic goals as well.

Choosing between different types

While most people think of mulch as always being woody bark flakes, mulch can be made from several different materials: straw, leaves, and other broken-down organics. Here is a guide to the most common types of mulch, and where they are best used.

Wood Mulch: This is likely the most familiar type of mulch you’ll encounter. Made from tree bark and wood, it comes in various textures and grain sizes - from coarse chunks to finely shredded pieces. The most common varieties are double-ground, triple-ground, and fine-ground mulch.

· Double-ground mulch features larger chunks that promote better air circulation around plant roots, making it especially beneficial for plants that grow best in moist or poorly drained areas, such as Buttonbush. The larger pieces require a lot more time to break down, making this an excellent long-lasting choice.

· Triple-ground and fine-ground mulches break down more quickly, adding rich nutrients to the soil faster while being heavier and more compact. The caveat to this, however, is that finer mulches will need to be replaced or replenished more often.

Leaf Mulch: Chocked full of ready-to-use nutrients, this mulch type is best used with woodland or shade plantings as it mimics a natural forest floor. It tends to be acidic, making it a wonderful choice for acid-loving plants, like Hydrangeas.

· Often made from the fallen leaves of Oak, Maple, and many other types of fallen leaves.

· Due to the natural decomposition, this type of mulch will stimulate beneficial soil microorganisms.

Mulching best practices

Mulching is always a great idea to boost the health and appearance of a garden overall, but different plants have different needs – so some slightly different mulching techniques are needed for the best results.

Annuals

· Since annuals grow in single season, they require the most straight-forward mulching techniques. They only require a very thin layer, no more than 1-2 inches. This will be enough to lock in moisture during the hot summer and also prevent competition with weeds. Annuals tend to have more delicate plant structures, so it is important to not pile the mulch thickly close to the stem.

Perennials

· Perennials need a little more support, so it is best to spread 2-3 inches of rich mulch around the plant. This is enough to protect complex roots and help the soil stay cool during the hot months. Leaf mulch or medium-texture wood mulch is a solid choice here to introduce beneficial microorganisms and a healthy nutrient boost. To prevent a lack of air circulation, be sure not to apply right against the base of the plant. Perennials will most likely need re-applications each year.

Trees & Shrubs

· Due to both having woody stems/trunks, trees and shrubs have similar needs in the mulch department. Apply a nice thick layer of 3-4", making sure to spread evenly and wide to cover the entire root zone below. A good rule of thumb is to spread about as far as the canopy reaches overhead. Avoid the usual mistake of piling mulch against the trunk, as this can cause rot in young trees and shrubs.

From a freshly planted bed of veggies to the shaded area under an old beloved tree canopy, mulching is always beneficial when done correctly.