One of the best things you can do for your garden and landscape is to spread a layer of mulch over the exposed soil surfaces to save you time and energy. Mulch helps your soil hold water, requiring much less irrigation. Secondly, it is one of the best weed barriers you can have.
Shredded Bark Mulch:
While being one of the most popular mulch types used, it is also one of the least expensive. The most commonly used source for this bark is from cedar trees, but that undoubtedly is not the only source. Shredded Bark is a common choice for sloped banks because it breaks down rather slowly and it holds together very well. Also you will discover that some of the Shredded Bark supplies result as a byproduct from other industries, and they're considered very environmentally friendly.
Using Shredded Leaf Mulch:
If you have a number of leaves in your yard during the fall, shred them, and use this material as an over-winter mulch. Fallen leaves often decompose somewhat quickly, (less than one year), and provide a great deal of nutrients to your soil. To minimize the matting tendency of leaf mulch, make sure you shred your leaves prior to spreading.
Grass Clippings:
Another free source for mulch can be your lawn grass clippings. When you lay down the grass mulch, be sure that it is pre-dried. Also to prevent matting, keep your mulch layers rather thin. Another great feature of grass mulch is it supplies required nitrogen nutrients to the soil.
Mulch Types - Straw:
Another organic mulch option you should examine is straw. It has a nice golden hue, and looks beautiful. It also breaks down a bit slower than either grass clippings or leaves. When using straw, you need to be aware of one thing. Often straw additionally includes weed seeds, and you could have headaches with more of a weed problem than you are trying to solve.
Compost Mulch:
Compost mulch is one of the better organic mulch options. It is dark and genuinely sets off the planting beds nicely. Also, it adds significantly to the nutrients in the soil.
Using Pine Needles as Mulch:
Pine Needle mulch, additionally known as pine straw, is a fantastic organic mulch. Also, it is a mulch that is most appropriately used around acid-loving plants. Because the pine needles hold together very well, and break down comparatively slowly, it is a common option for steep slopes and banks. Blueberries, azaleas, rhododendrons, and other conifers are common planting options in this type of mulch.
Pine Bark Nuggets Mulch:
Pine Bark Nuggets tend to float and they are easily washed away during periods of heavy rain. Therefore, do not use them on steeply sloped areas. They are slow to break down and are available in a variety of sizes. Generally the larger the nugget, the longer it will take to break down.
Using Wood Chips as Mulch:
Another outstanding free source of mulching material is wood chips. You can either chip you own or obtain them from local tree trimming companies. They will provide you with an excellent weed barrier and break down somewhat slowly. The new chips will rob your soil of nitrogen, and add acid to your soil as well.
Using Cocoa Hulls for Mulch:
If you are interested one of the richest looking mulch materials, take a look at Cocoa Bean Hulls. It is one of the more pricey options out there though. Many gardeners justify the extra expense because of its deep, rich color, chocolate fragrance, and very long-lasting qualities.
One caution if you use this mulch. There are many sources that suggest if the hulls are ingested by dogs or cats, they can be poisoned.
Gravel and River Rock:
If you use any of the rock materials, and it is installed properly, it will never need replacement as it doesn't break down. Negatives include: It is hard to dig up and split perennials, and because the rock does not break down, no nutrients are added to your soil.
Shredded Rubber Used as Mulch
Not only does using recycled rubber divert this material from the landfill, it additionally prevents the destruction of trees during its manufacture.
Some of the fantastic aspects of using this eco-friendly product are it stays looking great as it doesn't loose its color. Also, it is heavy, stays in place, and it does not break down, so it doesn't need replacement. Because it does not decay or compact, you can spread it much thinner than traditional mulches. Typically reducing the thickness from 3 inches that is required for other mulch types, down to about 1.5 inches.
Shredded Bark Mulch:
While being one of the most popular mulch types used, it is also one of the least expensive. The most commonly used source for this bark is from cedar trees, but that undoubtedly is not the only source. Shredded Bark is a common choice for sloped banks because it breaks down rather slowly and it holds together very well. Also you will discover that some of the Shredded Bark supplies result as a byproduct from other industries, and they're considered very environmentally friendly.
Using Shredded Leaf Mulch:
If you have a number of leaves in your yard during the fall, shred them, and use this material as an over-winter mulch. Fallen leaves often decompose somewhat quickly, (less than one year), and provide a great deal of nutrients to your soil. To minimize the matting tendency of leaf mulch, make sure you shred your leaves prior to spreading.
Grass Clippings:
Another free source for mulch can be your lawn grass clippings. When you lay down the grass mulch, be sure that it is pre-dried. Also to prevent matting, keep your mulch layers rather thin. Another great feature of grass mulch is it supplies required nitrogen nutrients to the soil.
Mulch Types - Straw:
Another organic mulch option you should examine is straw. It has a nice golden hue, and looks beautiful. It also breaks down a bit slower than either grass clippings or leaves. When using straw, you need to be aware of one thing. Often straw additionally includes weed seeds, and you could have headaches with more of a weed problem than you are trying to solve.
Compost Mulch:
Compost mulch is one of the better organic mulch options. It is dark and genuinely sets off the planting beds nicely. Also, it adds significantly to the nutrients in the soil.
Using Pine Needles as Mulch:
Pine Needle mulch, additionally known as pine straw, is a fantastic organic mulch. Also, it is a mulch that is most appropriately used around acid-loving plants. Because the pine needles hold together very well, and break down comparatively slowly, it is a common option for steep slopes and banks. Blueberries, azaleas, rhododendrons, and other conifers are common planting options in this type of mulch.
Pine Bark Nuggets Mulch:
Pine Bark Nuggets tend to float and they are easily washed away during periods of heavy rain. Therefore, do not use them on steeply sloped areas. They are slow to break down and are available in a variety of sizes. Generally the larger the nugget, the longer it will take to break down.
Using Wood Chips as Mulch:
Another outstanding free source of mulching material is wood chips. You can either chip you own or obtain them from local tree trimming companies. They will provide you with an excellent weed barrier and break down somewhat slowly. The new chips will rob your soil of nitrogen, and add acid to your soil as well.
Using Cocoa Hulls for Mulch:
If you are interested one of the richest looking mulch materials, take a look at Cocoa Bean Hulls. It is one of the more pricey options out there though. Many gardeners justify the extra expense because of its deep, rich color, chocolate fragrance, and very long-lasting qualities.
One caution if you use this mulch. There are many sources that suggest if the hulls are ingested by dogs or cats, they can be poisoned.
Gravel and River Rock:
If you use any of the rock materials, and it is installed properly, it will never need replacement as it doesn't break down. Negatives include: It is hard to dig up and split perennials, and because the rock does not break down, no nutrients are added to your soil.
Shredded Rubber Used as Mulch
Not only does using recycled rubber divert this material from the landfill, it additionally prevents the destruction of trees during its manufacture.
Some of the fantastic aspects of using this eco-friendly product are it stays looking great as it doesn't loose its color. Also, it is heavy, stays in place, and it does not break down, so it doesn't need replacement. Because it does not decay or compact, you can spread it much thinner than traditional mulches. Typically reducing the thickness from 3 inches that is required for other mulch types, down to about 1.5 inches.
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