Mind Your Mulch: Eco-friendly Mulch

(Page 3 of 3)

March/April 2003
By Ann D. Brucklacher 
Article Tools
Print
Comments
RSS
Bookmark and Share

Make your own

RELATED CONTENT

Shred nonglossy newspaper and spread it several inches thick, then dampen and cover with a thin layer of wood mulch or grass clippings. To block weeds further, lay down several full sheets of newspaper.

Instead of bagging, shred autumn leaves with a mower. Compost the leaves for a season into “leaf mold” or spread in a loose, six-inch mulch layer that will compost in place. Other lawn materials such as fallen twigs, hedge trimmings, and Spanish moss also make fine mulches.

Mulching tips

You can have too much of a good thing. Overly thick mulches can suffocate roots. Most mulches work best in two- to four-inch blankets.

When mulching trees, mulch out to the tree’s drip line but leave a few inches bare around the trunk where piled mulch could harbor wood-harming pests and lead to devastating trunk rot. If mulch becomes hard and matted, fluff to allow air and moisture to get through. Also always check the freshness of bulk mulches. If mulch smells sour or rotten, it could harm your plants.

When to mulch

In colder climates, a good replenishing layer of organic mulch just before freezing can help plants and bulbs weather winter extremes. Allow soils to warm up a bit in spring before applying new mulch, which will keep soil temperatures as much as ten degrees cooler in the hotter summer months and prevent disease susceptibility. By periodically mulching or installing long-lasting mulch beds, you can keep up with your garden’s mulching needs and enjoy mulch’s many benefits.

Page: << Previous 1 | 2 | 3 |
Bookmark and Share
RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print

Comments

  • Patt 6/11/2009 1:00:47 PM

    Rubber mulch may not be safe. It often contains heavy metals. We are now finding out that the chopped rubber is unsafe for playgrounds, including the new White House one.

Add Your Comment

You can use this comment form to enter your personal experiences or additional information and resources that you'd like to share with Natural Home readers. Your helpful advice will be posted on this page.  E-mail addresses are never displayed on comments, but they are required to confirm your comments.

Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.

New to Natural Home Magazine?
Sign up to share comments.
Asterisks(*) indicate required fields.
Name*
Your name appears next to your comment.

E-mail Address*
This will be your login ID.

City State Zip Code

Password*


Confirm Password*

Comments
1500 character limit (Offensive materials and/or spam will be removed, no HTML allowed)
Please Note: Your sign-up must be verified via e-mail before your comment is published.
FEATURED ARTICLES
MOST POPULAR


Subscribe today and save 50%
First Name: *
 Last Name: *
Address: *
 City: *
State/Province: *
 Zip/Postal Code:*
Country:
 Email:*
(* indicates a required item)
Canadian subs: 1 year, (includes postage & GST). Foreign subs: 1 year, . U.S. funds.
Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
Non US and Canadian Subscribers - Click Here

Subscribe to Natural Home

Welcome to Natural Home, the authority on green lifestyle and design. With an up-to-date outlook on current trends in sustainable building and wholesome living, Natural Home gives today’s eco-conscious homeowners the information they need to live in nurturing, healthy homes. Subscribe to Natural Home today to get inspired on the art of living wisely and living well.

Save money and a few trees by paying with your credit card now. Take advantage of our earth-friendly automatic renewal savings plan. You’ll save an additional $4.95 and get six issues of Natural Home for just $15! (Offer valid only in the U.S.)

Or, choose Bill Me Later and pay just $19.95