{"id":5930,"date":"2023-01-13T04:16:22","date_gmt":"2023-01-13T09:16:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ifoxany.com\/?p=5930"},"modified":"2023-01-10T04:53:36","modified_gmt":"2023-01-10T09:53:36","slug":"how-to-mulch-like-a-pro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ifoxany.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/13\/how-to-mulch-like-a-pro\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Mulch Like a Pro"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Learning how to apply mulch can make gardening much easier and more labor-efficient. Here are nine steps to learning how to mulch like a pro.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Mulch does a host of things that your plants want and need, such as shading roots on hot days, preventing moisture from evaporating, and stopping weeds from taking root. But it’s important to learn the\u00a0differences between mulch materials<\/a>, and how to properly spread mulch.<\/p>

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\"Mulching<\/div><\/div>
Andy Lyons.<\/span>\u00a0ANDY LYONS<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>

Two Types of Mulch<\/span><\/h2>

There are two basic kinds of mulch: Organic and inorganic. Organic materials\u2014wood, bark, compost, grass clippings, and leaves\u2014will decompose and improve the soil. They last a few years, after which you’ll need to add more. In addition, organic mulches are easy to spread and do no harm if mixed into soil, as will happen when planting annuals or shrubs, for example.<\/p>

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Stone, by contrast, is meant to be a more or less permanent mulch, to be put in place atop a layer of landscape fabric and left alone. It’s the lowest-maintenance option but not easy to plant in. So the key question is: Will I be doing any gardening that requires digging and moving mulch aside to plant ornamentals? You’ll want to stick with organic mulch if the answer is yes.<\/p>

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\u00a09 Ways to Avoid the Worst Mulching Mistakes<\/span><\/a><\/div>
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Pick the Right Mulch<\/span><\/h2>

Every kind of organic mulch has pros and cons. For example, bark nuggets are widely available but can float away in heavy rain. Cocoa hulls have a distinct aroma (some like it, some don’t) but are relatively expensive and toxic to dogs. Shredded bark or wood is the most common landscape mulch\u2014it’s inexpensive and easy to apply, but it doesn’t add as many nutrients to the soil as some other mulches.<\/p>

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You can also use waste from your yard as mulch, such as grass clippings, leaves, and compost.\u00a0Compost adds a lot of nutrients<\/a>\u00a0but isn’t good at deterring weeds. If you compost at home, it’s not a good idea to use it to mulch flower beds unless you know that the compost got hot enough to kill weed seeds. Otherwise, you might end up with more weeds, not less!<\/p>

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Grass clippings are effective as mulch but don’t pile them too deeply, or they can get soggy and mucky. And be sure never to use clippings as mulch if the grass was treated with herbicides. Leaves are a practical example of how to mulch if they’re shredded first. Pine needles are long-lasting and an excellent mulch around acid-loving plants like\u00a0azaleas<\/a>\u00a0because\u00a0pine needles acidify soil<\/a>.<\/p>

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Tips for Mulching<\/span><\/h2>

Although the process of mulching seems simple (you just put it over the dirt, right?), there are some things to keep in mind. These are some of our best mulching tips.<\/p>

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