Good Mulch

A good mulch is an essential part of any garden space.

Helena Beautification Vice Chairman Brian Puckett shoveling mulch Sunday morning in Old Town. He knows the benefits of a good mulch.

Last Sunday an impromptu garden party broke out in Old Town as two board members headed to Old Town in the early morning hours to weed the strip where we recently planted a ton of native perennials. As we weeded, we decided to start hauling mulch from the pile to the site. Within an hour word got out and another board member showed up declaring "I'm not going to let you guys have all the fun!" While weeding and mulching might not seem like fun for most folks, for those of us who love to see things grow, we know its an integral part of what makes any garden space sustainable. Within the span of three hours, we had weeded and mulched the entire strip. We left, dog tired but assured that this planting bed was now set up for success. In a previous post we talked about the importance of a soil test and starting any planting out on a good footing. Mulch is the next step of ensuring overall success in the garden.

So what exactly does mulch do for the garden? Here are just a few of the benefits to having at least a 2-3" layer of mulch in your planting beds:

Mulch helps to keep down weeds
Mulch helps to insulate the soil from the extremes of heat and cold.
Mulch helps in the retention of moisture at the base of your plantings where its needed most.
Mulch helps to maintain nutrients in the soil.

A good layer of mulch also gives your garden beds a finished look and creates definition in the garden. We suggest only hardwood mulches, pine straw.

Things to avoid:

Rubber mulch and mulches where artificial colors have been added. Some contain harmful chemicals which can actually harm plants.
Mulching too deep. Anything more than 4" of mulch can actually prevent moisture from reaching the soil and root systems.

As you can see, mulch definitely adds a finished look to your space. It also protects the soil and ultimately the root systems of your plantings.

About The Author

Nicknamed "The Redneck Rosarian", Chris VanCleave is passionate about gardening and growing roses. He is an active member of the Birmingham chapter of the American Rose Society, serving two terms as President. In 2007, he created the Rose Chat Podcast which has reached over a half a million listeners with news and information on growing the world's most beloved flower, the rose. He was a contributor to the 2015 Southern Living Gardening Book, has appeared on P. Allen Smith's Garden Home television show and was featured in the June 2015 issue of Southern Living Magazine. Locally, Chris serves as Chairman of the Helena Beautification Board where he has spearheaded efforts to create a sustainable landscape in one of the Top 100 places to live in the US. His writing is seen on About.com, HGTV, Home Depot Gardening Club and on his popular website; RedneckRosarian.com, where he chronicles his gardening adventures and explores an intrinsic mix of life, faith and gardening. An agent of change with over 20 years' experience in process innovation, Mr. VanCleave is leading the charge to reinvigorate horticulture societies and helping them to reach their full potential in the social media age.