Yes but how much? And what type? And where? And more importantly where not??
For those of us who don’t find themselves up late at night thinking about the different types of mulch (everyone except us!) you might have quite a few questions as to the art of mulch. While seemingly a pretty simple application, if mulch is used in the wrong way it can have the very opposite effect. Heavy handed mulching in the wrong spots can causing a myriad of diseases, starving your plants of oxygen and even become a moist home for pests. Yikes!
Done correctly, mulch preserves moisture, enhances the nutrients in the soil, reduces erosion, suppresses weeds, which all improve the condition of the soil. We love to use it on large areas to support our plants, suppress weeds, and it also makes the area looks really finished and elevated even if you’re on a budget!
The disadvantages of mulching:
- Don’t spread Excessive Mulch
Is kill them with kindness your approach? Over-mulching can lead to less than ideal consequences, such as depriving your plants of essential oxygen and creating an environment conducive to pests and diseases. A layer more than 10cm can suffocate plants and bury them.
Do: mulch up to 10cm deep to keep air flowing down to your plants roots and soil.
- Don’t mulch right up to the tree trunk
Roots often grow up and into the mulch causing stem girdling, which can kill trees. This is especially problematic on trees planted within the last 10 to 20 years. Mulch can also hide decay and dead spots on the lower trunk and major roots. The organic matter and fertiliser in the mulch can also burn the base of the tree.
Do: leave a small gap at the base of the tree with no mulch
- Don’t mulch in late autumn
Mulch insulates plants and so by keeping them too warm can prevent a tree going dormant for winter. The much needed hibernation helps plants survive the winter months.
Do: check when best to spread mulch in your local area.
- Don’t mulch in areas with Drainage Issues:
In areas with poor drainage or heavy rainfall, mulching can exacerbate waterlogging problems. This can result in root rot and compromise the overall health of plants.
Do: Before mulching, assess the drainage of the soil by digging a hole 30 centimetres deep and wide and filling it with water. If the water drains from the hole in 10 minutes or less, you have fast draining soil. If the water takes an hour or more to drain, you have poorly-draining soil.
- Don’t mulch in areas with heavy weed growth:
While mulch serves as an effective weed suppressor if you don’t take control of the weeds before spreading you can have a bigger problem on your hands. Mulch can inadvertently provide shelter to weed seeds already present in the soil.
Do: ensure weeds are mostly removed or sprayed from the area before spreading mulch.
Our team choose the jeffries forrest mulch for most applications, and their recover mulch when the soil needs a little bit more love. (When compost cant be added)
Still not sure if you need to mulch or not? The Evergreen Team are always happy to have a chat and provide some advice. Just give us a call on 0449 180 257 or email hello@evergreengardening.com.au