Mulch: what does it mean and how to use it for soil, types and which one is better

Before you use mulch on your garden plot, you need to figure out what it is and why this material is needed in the garden. Experienced gardeners have been using organic and artificial material for many years and have identified the undeniable advantages of such an agricultural technique. Mulch not only helps retain moisture in the soil, but also helps increase yields and discourage weed growth.

What is mulching

Mulching is an important agrotechnical technique that allows you to keep the topsoil in a wet and loose state, which is necessary for the full development of crops.Those gardeners who refuse this procedure are forced to constantly fight weeds, loosen the beds and spend a lot of time irrigating the plants. And this means that labor costs for growing fruit crops are increasing.

The meaning of mulching is that a layer of organic or artificial materials is laid on top of the soil, while not covering the cultivated plants themselves. Use sawdust, film, humus and other improvised means as mulch. In some cases, gardeners combine materials or add mineral fertilizers, in particular nitrogen.

This agrotechnical procedure is most important in the southern, arid regions, where, without shelter, the soil quickly dries out, cracks and loses its fertility.

Pros and Cons of Application

Gardeners who have been using mulch on their garden plots for several years have identified the advantages and disadvantages of this agrotechnical procedure.

The advantages of laying a protective layer around cultivated plants include the following points:

• preservation of soil moisture for a long time even in a dry period;
• reducing water consumption for irrigation;
• protection of the root system of cultivated plants from overheating in the heat of summer and freezing in winter;
• reducing labor costs and time for weeding, as the layer does not allow it to break through to the surface of the earth;
• no pollution of low-lying berries and vegetables even in rainy seasons and maintaining the decorative appearance of fruits;
• improving the water and air permeability of the soil, as well as the structure and fertility, thanks to the beneficial components that make up organic mulch;
• preventing pathogens from the soil from getting onto berries and fruits during irrigation;
• creating a favorable environment for the reproduction of beneficial microorganisms and earthworms;
• prevention of washing out and weathering of soil from under plants, thereby strengthening the root system;
• fertilizing plants with useful substances after the mulch layer is overheated (applies only to organic materials);
• possibility to regulate soil acidity depending on the material used;
• Creating a decorative look in the yard - beds covered with mulch look neat and tidy.

Despite the sufficient number of advantages of mulching, this agricultural technique also has its drawbacks that must be taken into account when starting the procedure.

The disadvantages of laying a protective layer on the beds gardeners include:

• on heavy clay soils, with a close location of groundwater and in rainy seasons, organic mulch begins to rot, which is fraught with the development of fungal diseases, the pathogens of which multiply well in dampness.In addition, during the process of decay, useful substances are drawn out of the soil, which are necessary for crops to bear fruit and develop;
• if you lay a protective layer with the arrival of the first spring days, it will prevent the soil from warming up in time and delay the emergence of winter plants, so experienced gardeners recommend not rushing to lay the mulch until the soil warms up properly;
• when using organic materials, there is a risk that not only beneficial microorganisms will settle in the mulch, but also pests, including quite large ones, like snails or mice.
• if you take mowed grass for the protective layer, on which seeds have already formed, you can not reduce, but increase the number of weeds in the garden.

Mulch types: choosing the best one

When planning to use a mulch layer in your garden and garden, you must first figure out what materials are used for this, what advantages and disadvantages they have. Mulch is divided into two main categories - organic and inorganic:

1. Organic materials include sawdust, needles, grass clippings, bark and leaves, cardboard and newspaper waste. The peculiarity of such a mulch is that over time it decomposes on its own and saturates the soil in the garden with useful substances. However, it must be remembered that such material will have to be periodically changed to fresh. But, despite this disadvantage, many gardeners prefer organic material, as it is natural and does not harm the soil and cultivated plants.
2. Inorganic materials include all those that do not decompose on their own, so do not need periodic replacement. It can be a black polymer film, small gravel, broken brick (only not silicate), expanded clay, roofing felt and non-woven materials. This mulch is preferred if it is necessary to give the site a decorative and well-groomed look, besides, it is ideal if it is necessary to restrain the growth of weeds. It is worth considering that materials such as crushed stone and crushed brick have the ability to heat the soil, which is good in the spring and can harm plants in the hot summer.

How and when to mulch beds?

Gardeners most often start laying the mulching layer in the spring, when the snow cover completely disappears and the soil warms up. Previously, the roots of perennial weeds are removed from the garden and fertilizers are added.

After that, the selected material is laid out, which will protect the crops from overheating on hot summer days and will not allow moisture to evaporate. When the time comes to sow seeds or plant prepared seedlings, the mulch is carefully pushed apart. However, another method can also be used - first, the beds are planted with cultivated plants, and only after that a mulch layer is laid out between the rows.

The second period when it is necessary to use mulch falls on the month of October, when the crop has already been harvested, and the soil has been saturated with moisture from the autumn rains. Just like in spring, they first prepare the soil by removing weeds and introducing the necessary top dressing.If the gardener plans to sow some crops before winter, then the material can already be put on top of the crops.

The advantages of autumn mulching are that the material will protect plants from freezing, in addition, thanks to the layer, it will be possible to retain snow on the site, which is necessary to moisten the soil. With the advent of spring, the material can be replaced completely, or you can simply add fresh material to compensate for winter losses.

As for ornamental plants and flower beds, inorganic material in the form of pebbles or small gravel is used for their mulching, making a continuous layer 5 to 10 cm thick. For fruit trees and berry bushes, sawdust or needles are used, less often - fallen leaves. The material is laid out along the radius, but free space is left at the trunk so that it does not start to rot.

Instructions for use

In order for the mulch layer to perform its functions and bring only benefits to cultivated and ornamental plants, you must follow the instructions for use.

Grass mulching

When planning to use grass as a mulching layer for a garden, you need to figure out which vegetation is suitable for this purpose and how to properly prepare it. Dry, fresh and partially rotted grass is used to create a protective layer. Vegetation with signs of diseases or traces of pests, as well as specimens that already have seed pods, should not be taken for the mulch layer.

The method of application depends on what grass the grower plans to use:

1. Fresh. In this case, the stage of preliminary preparation of the material is absent. The preferred option is green manure, which is mowed and lightly trampled down with their feet so that the process of extracting juice starts in them and rotting begins. The advantage of fresh grass is that it saturates the soil with nitrogen, so it is used in the first half of the season.
2. Dry. The pre-selected grass is mowed and laid out under a canopy in a thin layer for drying. Periodically turn the material over so that it dries evenly and does not begin to rot. When the mulch is completely ready, use it for unfolding in the aisles and near the trees. The advantage of dry grass is that, if properly stored, it retains its qualities throughout the year, and it can be used in early spring when there is no fresh vegetation.
3. Partially rotted. The cut grass is placed in a barrel or composter and waited for about a week. During this time, the vegetation will acquire the desired consistency, and it can be laid out in the garden.

Sawdust

It must be taken into account that fresh sawdust cannot be used for mulching cultivated plants in the garden, they are first prepared, turning into humus.In a natural way, sawdust overheats for a very long time, so it is recommended to speed up this process. Sawdust, manure, ash and food waste are laid out in layers, while adding urea at the rate of 1 kg per 100 kg of wood waste.

You can use fresh sawdust to decorate paths in the garden or flower beds. Also, gardeners use such material in raspberries, as the culture is not afraid of acidic soil and normally bears fruit in it.

Peat

You can mulch beds with vegetables and other crops with peat, and it must be slightly acidic and decomposed. Lowland peat has these characteristics, so it is most often used. The riding material is too loose, so even a light wind will blow it away.

The mulching layer is laid with a height of 1 to 7 cm. Experienced gardeners recommend using this material exclusively on rows of crops. If the soil on the site is poor, mineral supplements are added to the peat, thus combining two procedures.

Straw

Straw is used as a mulching material for both cultivated and ornamental plants. It is preferable to take straw from green manure grown on the site. Before use, it should be chopped into pieces with a maximum length of 5 cm.

For young plants in spring, it is better to take rotted straw, as fresh straw can damage the delicate skin of plants. To do this, it has been laid in a compost heap since autumn, by the beginning of the season the material will be ready for laying out on the beds.

Must and compost

Compost is considered one of the best materials for creating a mulching layer. Its only drawback is that it is done in advance. During the season, plant residues are piled into a compost heap, spilling them with urea, a year later the material is ready for use as mulch.

If the soil in the garden is poor, it is recommended to use humus as a protective layer.It saturates the soil with nitrogen, which is necessary for crops in the spring for rapid growth. It is ideal for fruit trees and shrubs, as well as grape plantations.

Bumps

Mulching beds with pine or spruce cones allows not only to retain moisture in the soil, but also to create an attractive view on the site. Such material is also often used in flowerbeds with ornamental plants.

Typically, buds are mixed with a little crushed bark and moss.

Paper and cardboard

In gardening, paper and cardboard are also used as mulch, although they are less useful than sawdust or compost. The material is used in two ways - cut into strips 1 cm thick and laid in a layer of 15 cm in the right place, or they take whole sheets of cardboard and lay them out in several layers so that there are no gaps between them.

The last option allows you to reduce the amount of weeds on the site, as it cannot break through thick paper.

Moss

When planning to use moss as mulch, you need to remember that it slightly acidifies the soil, which is not suitable for some plants. It is used to create a protective layer under trees and shrubs, as well as ornamental crops. The layer should be about 15 cm.

Chunks from shredder

If the gardener has a shredder on the farm, then dry branches and other plant materials can be chopped in it and used as a mulch layer.

Pine nut shell

This material is not only useful for the ground, but also durable, so you do not have to change the protective layer often. The shell is used in flower beds, under ornamental shrubs and coniferous crops.

Geotextile and gravel

This option is suitable for creating a mulch layer under coniferous plants. First, a layer of geotextile material is spread, and fine gravel is scattered over it.

Geotextile and bark

A popular option for decorating the local area and home gardens. A layer of geotextile is laid on the ground, and bark, preferably pine bark, is poured on top.

Geotextile and flagstone

Flagstone is durable but expensive, so it is used in combination with crushed bark, laying them on a geotextile substrate.

Do I need to mulch the soil in a greenhouse?

Experienced gardeners say that even in a greenhouse a mulch layer will be beneficial if you choose the right material and carry out the procedure. To do this, it is better to use organic materials - humus, sawdust, needles, the layer should be from 5 to 7 cm.

Main mulching mistakes

Common mistakes that gardeners make when mulching a site include: improper preparation and composition of the mulch, inappropriate timing for the procedure, untimely replacement of the old layer, too thin or thick layer of material, too frequent watering the beds.

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