Lawn mulching can benefit your yard in many ways. One, it can improve the appearance, especially when a light or neutral-colored mulch is used around colorful plants. Two, it helps protect your plants. Mulching keeps weed growth limited, reducing the chance of weeds strangling out your plants. It also serves as a cushion to mechanical injury caused when mowers or weed eaters are used nearby. Finally, it benefits the soil by conserving moisture and maintaining temperature. Depending on the type of mulch used, it may even add nutrients to the soil.
A common problem with mulching is overuse. When you lay too much mulch, roots may begin to grow in the mulch, instead of in the soil. Since the mulch does not have the wide variety of nutrients and beneficial bacteria found in soil, this can lead to poor plant growth.
Generally, you should expect to use one to three inches of mulch for shrubs, trees and ground cover. For ornamental plants, a one inch layer will usually suffice. Mulch will need to be replenished occasionally as it does decompose over time. However, try to keep the height of the layer consistent when replenishing.
Care should be taken to not mulch too close to the base or trunk of a plant. This can cause decay or injury to the plant. Plastic should not be used under the mulch as it can dry out the soil.
Purchasing mulch can be a problem area. Mulch is typically sold by the cubic yard. If you don't know how to calculate your mulch needs, you could end up with too much or too little for the job. Measure the area you plan to mulch, multiplying the length by the width to get the area. Multiply the area by how many inches you plan to lay, typically one to three. Take the number you get and divide it by 324 to get the number of cubic yards of mulch you will need to purchase.
So if you had a garden measuring 15 feet by 15 feet, the area would be 225 square feet. If you plan to lay 2 inches of mulch, you would get 450. When divided by 324, you would find you need to purchase approximately 1.4 cubic feet of mulch.
Once you know the amount of mulch you need, it is time to consider the type of mulch you wish to use. These can range from wood chips of varying types to hay or leaves. Plastic mulch should not be used as it does not decompose. It also may retain too much moisture, leading to mildew or root rot. Whenever possible, choose an organic mulch.
Organic mulches are ones that were previously living material. This may include pine needles, grass clippings or leaves. As these decompose, they enrich the soil beneath. They also encourage earthworm activity which can help keep soil aerated.
There are some situations where an organic mulch may not be your best option though. If you are mulching in an area prone to rodents, the organic type may exacerbate this problem. In climates with a lot of moisture, they may retain too much moisture. This can attract slugs and snails to your plants, and in some cases, may cause rotting of your plant's stems.
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