Organic Mulches Save Water, Cool Roots and Reduce Weeds

Mulching is one of the best things you can do to help get plants through a hot summer. A mulch is a thin layer of usually organic matter that's placed on the soil over the roots of a plant. Mulches cool the soil, reducing evaporation and conserving water. Mulches also smother weed seeds and reduce weeds. Any weeds that do get through will be easy to pull from the mulch.

Organic mulches are preferred because, as they break down, they improve soil texture. However, inorganic mulches, such as landscape fabrics (covered in an earlier gazette) and newer mulches made from shredded tires, can be very useful for large areas. Most nurseries and garden centers sell a variety of organic mulches, either in bulk or packaged in bags. Common types include ground bark, compost, bark chips and leaf mold. You can also use locally available materials like sawdust, straw, pine needles and agricultural by-products like fruit pumice and nut shells. Even homemade compost and grass clippings can make excellent mulches.

Almost any plant, from vegetables to trees, will benefit from mulching. For smaller plants, an inch or two of mulch is usually plenty. Larger trees and shrubs should have layer at least 3 to 4 inches thick. Keep mulches at least 3 to 4 inches away from the trunks of trees and shrubs. Otherwise, rodents feeding on bark may go unnoticed. Since organic mulches breakdown quickly, they should be replenished often, at least once a season.