Mulch is exciting in its own special way...instant gratification for the gardener. Mulch makes everything look bright, neat, clean and so pin perfect in most cases. and we know this as people drive past our newly mulched lawns they smile and nod at its chipped perfection. We stand in front looking like some sort of mid- century farmer and pitch fork picture.
But there are suggested limits and ways to mulch. As I prepare my work boots and gather my gloves I go over these rules with my husband who I firmly believe has been issued the rules that non gardeners get as they load the bags into their sagging trunks or pay policeman/director with the truck carrying 10 yards of mulch not realizing that 10 yards in husband language adds up to usually one of two things...a big bottle of pain reliever or a large pile of fading wood mulch on your driveway in your spot two months from now.
Quick suggested rules of Mulching.
1. Weed and rake up loose leaves and other yard debris and pull weeds. Mulching can encourage weed growth and loose old leaves can cause fungus and disease on otherwise healthy plants.
2. Mulch only 2 to 4 inches deep
3. Don't build mulch volcanoes at the base of trees, if there is one there pull it back to the crown. Mulch piled high at the base of a tree leads to tree stress and sometimes rodent damage.
4. Spread mulch out to the drip line of a tree. A drip line is the furthermost tip of the tree branches, ie..where the rain would drip off would be a quick way to figure out the drip line.
Remember mulch is for keeping plants and trees warm in the winter and cool in the summer as well as for making your lawns and yards look attractive.
