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| Pine straw is one of the most commonly used mulch. Photograph by Timothy Daly |
The application of mulch is a critical
cultural practice in the home landscape. The use of mulch helps the soil to
retain moisture, improves the appearance of the landscape, and has numerous
other benefits. Using mulch is an essential component of ‘xeriscaping,’ which
is the implementation of several tactics that reduce the need for the
application of water in the landscape.
Mulch reduces the evaporation of soil
moisture, thus making more of it available to plants. It also prevents the
formation of crusty soil, which improves the infiltration and movement of water
in the soil. Mulch insulates the soil and helps prevent drastic fluctuations in
soil temperature, thus keeping the roots cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
It also adds organic matter to the soil and reduces soil erosion.
Covering the bare soil with mulch reduces
the germination of weeds that compete with the desired plants for moisture and
nutrients. It also acts as a barrier between the plants and the soil, reducing
the likelihood of soil-borne plant diseases. Mulched areas also act as a buffer
zone between the turfgrass areas and ornamentals, which prevents damage to them
from lawnmowers and other landscaping equipment.
Fine texture organic mulches, such as
pine straw, pine bark mini-nuggets, and shredded hardwood mulch, are preferable
to the coarse-textured mulches like large pine bark nuggets. The fine-textured
mulches do a better job of holding moisture in the soil. Avoid using lava rock,
marble, or gravel as a mulch. These materials absorb the intense heat from the
sun, which can be harmful to the plants.
Apply at least three to four inches of
fresh pine straw around your shrubs or roughly three inches of pine bark or
shredded hardwood mulch. Around trees and shrubs, always pull back some of the
mulch two to three inches away from the main trunk. Excessive mulch may cause the roots to grow
mostly in the shallow upper layers of the soil due to decreased ability to
absorb oxygen and water, as well as increase the risks of root diseases.
The plastic film should never be used as a
mulching material. It can hold too much water leading to root rot. Landscape
fabrics are preferred since they are porous and allow for the penetration of
water and air. However, they are challenging to install, they will not prevent
the germination of certain weeds like nutsedge, and they must be covered with
organic mulch. Removing the old mulch
every year and replacing it with new mulch is not necessary since the organic
mulch rots due to the activity of the microbes in the soil. Fresh mulch can be applied directly to the
top of the already-existing, partially rotted mulch until it is three to four
inches high. For example, if the existing layer of mulch is two inches thick,
then add only a thin layer of mulch, roughly one inch.
In conclusion, applying the proper mulch to
the home landscape creates a more pleasing appearance and also helps promote
good plant health in a variety of ways.
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| Avoid using marble, lava rock or gravel as a mulch. It absorbs heat and can cause the plants.to suffer heat stress and to dry out. Photograph by Timothy Daly |
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