Garden mulches are your first line of defense against weeds. Knowing when and how to use them is knowledge fundamental to low-maintenance landscaping. We sometimes take it for granted, but mulching gardens is one of the single most beneficial practices you can adopt in maintaining the grounds around your home.
Q.--
What is the difference between garden mulch and compost?
The above question really implies two separate questions:
- Are "mulch" and "compost" synonymous?
- If not, should you use mulch and compost in the same way, necessarily?
Q.--
I have seen people using leaves or bark as a garden mulch. Are there other types of garden mulches?
Click the link above to learn my answer, which is not meant to be exhaustive (indeed, there are almost an infinite number of materials that could serve as mulch) but will provide the novice with an introduction to widely available choices....
Q.--
Is it safe to use newspapers as a garden mulch or put them in my compost pile?
I usually don't address questions that take the form, "Is X safe?" because I am not a scientist or a doctor. But safety questions about mulch are asked so often that I decided to provide some basic answers in a few cases. The issue of whether newspaper mulch is safe is one such case....
Q.--
Is playground rubber mulch safe to use around plants?
Here I bring together a few resources that express skepticism regarding the use of rubber mulch in the landscape. My objective in doing so is to spur you on to begin researching rubber mulch for yourself....
Q.--
Is it safe to mulch around a house foundation, or does that invite termites?
Opinions vary on the degree of caution one must exercise when applying mulch near a house. But here I make you aware, at least, of the termite-control issues that arise when mulching around a foundation....
Admittedly, a trick question about so-called "mulch volcanoes"....
Unfortunately, this is one of those questions that demands an "It depends...."
Hopefully, you've been fastidious in the garden all year long up to this point. Don't stop now. Learn about the steps you should take before spreading mulch in fall....
It's an extra step in "making" mulch, but it's worth it....
Think soil health. Warning: there's a test involved! But you don't have to be smart to pass it....
Q.--
Since there are no weeds in winter, what is the purpose of applying a garden mulch in the fall?
Mulch is a multi-purpose material. The benefits of mulch go way beyond suppressing weeds. Click the link above to discover some of those other benefits.
Q.--
When's the time to take mulch off in spring?
Many beginners wonder what to do about mulch in a perennial bed when spring comes. Do you just leave it alone? Once they discover that this practice can be problematic, the next question they ask is, OK, so how and when will I know how to remove it? This tip should answer the question for you.
Q.--
Can I reuse the old mulch left over from fall?
How do you know if last year's mulch is still good? Find out by clicking the link above, where you'll also learn what to do with that old much if it is, in fact, still usable.
If you have a huge area to mulch but not such a huge bank account, then you need to obtain a cheap or free garden mulch. Here are some ideas to use....
Q.--
I have heard of "cover crops" being used instead of garden mulches. What exactly is a cover crop?
It's a term used more in agriculture than in landscaping, but that doesn't mean the homeowner, too, can't make use of cover crops in lieu of more conventional garden mulches....
From aesthetics to cost, learn the pros and cons of mulch vs. cover crops....
Q.--
What is dyed mulch or "colored mulch?"
Colored mulch is somewhat controversial, even if we restrict the conversation to one of aesthetics. Learn about what colored mulch is and why we have it....
Q.--
Is dyed mulch safe to use?
As if its appearance didn't generate enough controversy, questions also surround how safe it is for humans to garden with dyed mulch....
Q.--
Does colored mulch affect plant growth?
Separate from the question of whether colored mulch is harmful to people is the question of its effects on plant growth. Does colored mulch release any toxins into the ground that harm plants...?
