Before I became a gardener, I really didn’t see the point of mulch. I thought it was messy and I was under the false impression that it attracted bad bugs, like termites, that would destroy your house. Instead, mulching will help control pests and disease too. Mulching also blocks the sunlight from piercing into the ground which helps slow the weeds down and retains the water in the soil longer. As mulch breaks down, it adds nutrients into the soil which improves the soil condition.
In the few moments of the year we do get a frost, mulch will cover the plants and protect them from the cold like a blanket. If you get a lot of rain or have a poor drainage system, mulch can help with soil erosion and it makes everything look pretty!
You can use all kinds of organic or non-organic materials as mulch.
Here are some ideas for mulch:
- Pine bark or wood chips
- Pine straw or hay
- Shredded leaves
- Grass clippings
- Sawdust
- Stone or rocks
Mix and match throughout your garden. Mulching is not the star of your garden, your plants are, but co-stars are known to steal the spotlight from time to time.
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