There’s no such thing as an one-size-fits-all mulch.
Your understanding of the various attributes of different types of mulch will help you select the right mulch for your landscape. And, the first distinction or decision you’ll want to make is whether your situation calls for “summer (growing) mulch” or “winter mulch.”
Summer or Winter Mulch
Summer (growing) mulch is typically applied in the spring, after the soil has begun to warm. Summer mulch is used mostly to:
- Reduce the growth of weeds
- Keep the soil moist
- Keep the soil evenly warm throughout the summer
Winter mulch is typically applied in the fall, after the soil begins to cool. Shredded leaves, straw, and pine mulch make for good winter mulches. Winter mulch is used mostly to:
- Insulate woody plants
- Ensure the soil is evenly cool during the winter
Location
Your next consideration is deciding which mulch is best for your location. Following are helpful examples of matching mulch to a specific location.
- Vegetable gardens and small fruit plans commonly require straw, with black plastic
- Shrub beds and the area around trees are suited well for pine bark mulch chunks, wood chips, and pine needles
- Annual and perennial beds can be made attractive with fine mulches such as cocoa shells, buckwheat hulls, wood shavings, and bark granules.
- Rock gardens look more natural with crushed stone or fine gravel mulches
Cost and Availability
Cost and availability are certainly two other considerations when choosing a mulch.
Some mulches are “regional,” only available in regions where they’re processed. Buckwheat and cocoa are quite attractive, but they are also “regional” and much more expensive than bark or wood chips.
Posted on behalf of Clayton Hulen, Green Brothers Earth Works
