Garden Mulchaaaahhhhhh....garden mulch...how do I love thee, let me count the ways.... There are so many options available to you in this discussion. It really depends upon what “look” you are trying to achieve in the end, how much work you want to do to maintain that look, and how conscientious you are about the material you are using. Garden mulch can be as formal as landscaping stones, or as informal as pine needles. Mulch can be biodegradable and free, or synthetic and pricey. It all depends on you. The type of garden mulch that you choose, will often dictate the other types of materials you end up using in your landscape. My choice is almost always the biodegradable, informal option. I do not like to deal with a lot of maintenance on a regular basis, and if I change my mind about something I’ve done in my landscape, I want to be able to re-do it quickly and easily. The following is a list of some of the materials that you may use as your garden mulch, and other associated items that you’ll need in the process.
Free MulchDid you know that most homeowners can obtain mulch in the form of shredded yard waste from their local municipality for free??? Most villages/cities/townships have a dump that contains shredded or chopped wood from the yard waste and tree removal activities of that area. This material is usually available by pick-up for free by residents of that area, and by delivery for a small fee. Adding this organic material to your landscape can have tremendous benefits for your plants, the soil, and the environment overall.
Organic Mulch or CompostCan composted material be used as a mulch in your landscaping design? Absolutely! Just like free mulch, this organic mulch provides much benefit to the soil and the plants in your landscape. Compost also functions as a weed-deterrent and moisture retainer. I prefer using compost as mulch in areas such as the vegetable garden, because of how easy it is to simiply blend into the soil, whereas other mulching materials would need to be raked away when the soil needs to be tilled.
Landscaping with StonesI prefer not to use this material in my landscape for several reasons. The installation process is tedious, leaves, twigs and other debris must be cleaned out regularly to keep it's neat appearance, stones can fall on the lawn and run through the lawn mower, and even though landscaping fabric is used, weeds still manage to find a way through this material. And, depending on how small the stones are, it is very, very difficult to remove them from your landscape (I have many pockets of tiny landscaping stones around several of the trees in my yard - grrrr!)
Landscaping FabricRegardless of what type of garden mulch you decide to use, you’ll need to lay down landscaping fabric underneath that mulch. This material will enhance the weed deterrent qualities of the mulch, and will help the mulch function at its best. The type of fabric that you use is up to you. Personally, I prefer natural, biodegradeable material that I never have to remove once it is installed, although I may have to add more from time to time.
Landscape RocksI really like the look of a well-placed rock or two in a well-designed garden. Rocks provide a very natural look to even the most well-planned landscape. You have the option of adding real rocks to your site that are small enough for you to install yourself, and large enough that they need to be shipped to your location. You can also use synthetic rocsk that are often used to hide unsightly protrusions in the landscape that are difficult to conceal any other way.
Landscaping BricksThis material is most often used as edging around a planted area to keep the plants from spreading into the lawn, and the lawn from spreading into the plants. I don't find that this is necessary in a landscape design, but it certainly does seem to add a finished touch to an area.
Landscaping BlocksThese items are most often used in retaining walls. While I wouldn’t recommend completing a retaining wall that is more than 3 feet high without the help of a professional, short walls can certainly be constructed by the average do-it-yourselfer.
Organic Weed ControlControlling weeds is an ongoing issue for all homeowners and gardeners alike. Different methods can be used in different areas. I have found earth-friendly, organic weed control options for many weed problems, but I’m still learning, and continually trying to move away from any non-organic material. When it comes to weed control, this can be a challege.
Garden mulch can be as simple as using chopped up leaves, grass clippings and pine needles if you have them available. My riding lawn mower has tubs for collecting the grass clippings and leaves I’ve mowed. Usually I use this as the starter for my compost, however I have used these clippings as a mulch in certain areas. When using fresh grass clippings as a mulch use caution. A large amount of clippings can form a dense mat which is difficult for water to penetrate, and is difficult to break down. For more information on mulch materials and other idease surrounding conservation, refer to The National Resources Conservation Service (opens new window). Happy mulching!
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