With two days near 80 degrees last week, winter is not on most people’s mind. Yes, fall so far has been mild but cold temperatures are not far away. Now is the time to ensure your trees and shrubs are mulched and mulched properly. Think about trees and shrubs in the forest. They shed their leaves which provide protection to the soil. Roots are protected, erosion is reduced, moisture is conserved, and organic matter is added. So what benefits does mulch in your landscape provide? Roots are protected, erosion is reduced, moisture is conserved, and organic matter is added. Pretty amazing, huh?
Mulch beds are not just attractive. They provide a buffer between your plants and your mower and string trimmer. Organic mulches include: shredded hardwood, pine bark, straw, and pine needles. I will write about inorganic mulches in a future column.
Shredded hardwood can be purchased in bags or bulk such as a pick-up truck load. If bought commercially it should be double shredded and aged. Ask the sales associate about the product before you purchase. Mulches that are not aged are high in carbon and will react with the nitrogen in the soil thereby reducing the needed nitrogen to the plant. Dyed mulches give you color options and will retain their color longer than natural mulch.
Pine bark mulch has options including bark chips or nuggets, shredded and finely shredded. Shredded pine bark, as with hardwood mulch, can be purchased in bags or bulk and in colors. Pine nuggets do not decompose as quickly as shredded mulch. In general, pine bark nuggets are lighter than shredded mulch and are more likely to move in heavy rain.
Wood mulch, either hardwood or pine, should be no more than three inches thick and kept about an inch from the bark or stem of the tree or plant. DO NOT pile the mulch on the tree!
Straw mulch is a good choice for the vegetable garden and not the landscape. Straw provides similar benefits as wood mulches. Straw is less attractive but also less expensive. Purchase straw and not hay mulch. Hay mulch is likely to contain more weed seeds than straw.
Pine needles decompose slowly, are attractive, do not compact easily, and are very light and easy to move. Pine needles are also available commercially or free if you have pine trees on your property.
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