Mulching Properly - To Much Is Not Good
by John Yazo
Mulching can become an addictive habit. Wanting to add mulch every year to refresh the original appearance is not always the best choice .
There are allot of benefits in using mulch, but it can also be harmful if not done properly. Mulch should only be applied to a total depth of 2 to 4 inches. Even though organic mulch decomposes and changes color care should be taken not to apply mulch to thick around plant stems and tree trunks.
Mounding mulch to deep can cause problems. Building mulch up on plant stems and tree trunks can lead to insect and disease problems. It can also cause root rot by retaining to much moisture over the plants root system.
Before mulching inspect to see if the area that is going to be mulched is going to drain well.If the area is already mulched and you want to refresh the area, check the existing depth of the existing mulch. If the existing mulch is a thickness of 4 inches or more remove the existing top layer of mulch before adding new.
Weed barriers are another part of mulching that can cause problems. When barriers are installed they can prevent water and nutrients from reaching the plants root system. Plastic barriers in particular are know for this problem. This leaves only one way to get nutrients or water to the plant is by having to pull back the plastic to water and feed the plants the nutrients that they need to survive. The use of newspaper or cardboard is an alternative to the commercial made barriers. The newspaper will deteriorate over time. When applying newspaper or cardboard as a barrier you will need to soak it well before adding a layer of mulch over it.
Mulching your plants properly will save you allot of time maintaining your garden and will also help to conserve water while improving the soil structure in your garden.
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