When it comes to taking care of your garden, there are a couple of things you can do to make sure your plants grow healthy. From staking your privacy trees to laying down a layer of mulch, these actions go a long way toward making your garden all the more beautiful. Mulch is the ultimate gardening time-saver. Done correctly, it’s a great way to cut down on how much time you spend on other tasks for your garden.
Some of the benefits associated with mulching your soil include:
Preventing weed growth
After weeding your garden, it’s a good idea to apply a layer of mulch up to 10 centimetres thick. This prevents sunlight from reaching any weed seeds, preventing them from growing and competing with your plants.
Amending the soil
When organic mulch decomposes, it adds more nutrients to the soil and provides more food for your plants to grow. This also improves soil structure and drainage and prevents soil compaction.
Regulating soil temperature
Another job mulch has is keeping the temperature and moisture levels consistent. It prevents more of the water in the soil from evaporating, allowing the plants to retain more of it with each watering. In summer, this lets you get more out of your everyday watering, allowing you to do more with less. Applying a few layers also pays off during winter; adding a layer helps retain heat and prevents the soil from freezing.
Organic pest control
You can also use mulch to protect plants from pests and diseases. It acts as a line of defence by trapping pests before they reach the roots. Some wood varieties, like wood bark and ashes from a wood heater, also work as a deterrent, giving your plants additional protection against infestation.
Different Mulching Types for Your Garden
One thing that encourages healthy plant growth is finding the ideal mulch for your garden. When you’re looking for the right tree for your yard, remember to ask the dealers for advice on choosing the right mulch to help your new tree thrive in those crucial early days.
There are two basic types of mulch available for your garden: either organic or inorganic. Both types are great for nurturing your plants and discouraging weeds, but the organic variety has the advantage of improving the soil as it decomposes. That said, inorganic mulch can still work wonders for your plants by keeping the soil warm and keeping the plants cozy.
Here are a few materials you can use:
1.Wood chips
Wood chips are not only an effective type of mulch to help grow your plants, they also work to beautify your landscape. Check your local garden centre for decorative wood chips to make your outdoor spaces more pleasing to the eye. Using bark and wood chips is also an economical approach to mulching. These materials break down slowly, so you can make more use out of each application. Wood chips are ideal for use where immediate soil improvement isn’t necessary (e.g. around shrubs and trees).
2.Grass clippings
After you’re done mowing the lawn, it might be a good idea to save some of the grass clippings instead of throwing them away. Grass clippings are a simple, readily-available source of mulch and fertilizer. They’re naturally rich in nitrogen, which makes them an effective mulch for vegetable gardens. Alternatively, spread them out across your lawn to fertilize your grass. With regular watering, you can keep the lawn green and healthy all through summer.
3.Stone and gravel
Stones and gravel are another mulch option that helps your garden grow healthy and adds some appeal to your landscape. They’re great for keeping weeds out of your garden, and there are plenty of choices available to suit the aesthetic of your landscape, from river rock to crushed gravel.
4.Landscape fabric
Geotextiles, also known as landscape fabrics, are excellent at letting air and water seep into the soil below while keeping weeds down. However, take note that landscape fabrics can degrade when exposed to light. For ideal results, cover the fabric with a secondary layer of mulch to protect it from exposure.
5.Shredded leaves
Now that fall is fast approaching, fallen leaves are going to be a regular occurrence for the next few months. Put those leaves to work as a cost-effective and plentiful approach for keeping your garden healthy. Collect the leaves and shred them to make a mulch you can spread in your garden or flower bed. You can make the job much easier if you have a leaf-shredding machine or a lawnmower with a bagger. Shredded leaves also work well with wood chips to add some visual appeal to the yard.
6.Landscape film
Landscape film is a great option for trapping precious heat your plants need to keep warm. The black plastic transmits the sun’s heat to the soil beneath, which creates a microclimate a few degrees warmer than an unmulched garden. The area inside the film is an ideal environment for fruits and vegetables to thrive, particularly strawberries and tomatoes.
Mulching Tips for a Healthy Garden
For optimal results, it also pays to know a thing or two about mulching properly as you’re shopping around for trees. Like other activities, there are some tips that can help you make better use of mulch to keep your garden healthy.
Here are some tips to keep in mind:
1.Remember the aesthetics
When choosing mulch for your garden, look for one that complements the exterior colours of your home and enhances the landscape theme. For example, brownish pine mulch is a good combination with brick homes. Alternatively, darker varieties can create contrast and add visual appeal to your flowerbed.
2.Clean out your old mulch
When reapplying a new layer, remember to clear away all the old ones. In some cases, mulch has been added to beds as many as 3 or 4 times. At that point, it’s time to clear away the older layers to increase the effectiveness of the new batch you’re applying.
3.Avoid overmulching
Too much of a good thing is typically a negative, and mulch is no exception. Overmulching has negative effects on your trees, like encouraging them to set down shallow roots, making them more susceptible to damage during extended dry periods. Thick layers can also give pests a safe place to lie in wait. Another mistake many homeowners make is laying too much mulch at the base of trees. As the mulch decays, it can cause infection and affect the tree’s health. Instead, spread the mulch so it starts a few centimetres beyond the tree’s base. Keep it in the shape of a saucer; this shape both keeps the mulch from the tree and helps funnel water to the tree’s root system.
Sometimes, homeowners could use a little help taking care of their trees and gardens. At Caledon Treeland, we’re here to offer that helping hand. We offer a wide range of trees at our farm to beautify and augment your home. Call us now at (905) 880-1828 to make an appointment.
