Mulching the Garden
Mulching is an often-misunderstood gardening technique. Many folks in my gardening orbit use mulch only for its aesthetic qualities – often resorting to dyed mulches from garden centres. But, for me, the aesthetic value is the lowest on the importance scale. Proper mulching is a critical component in both enriching the soil – especially those of us with sandy soils – as well as one’s first defence against unwanted weeds.
Proper application of mulch is another piece to the puzzle. Generally speaking, I suggest applying 2-3” of mulch on the garden beds which applications I split between fall and springtime. In the fall, I apply the mulch as means to protect the more tender plants from the potential harshness of winter. While in the springtime, its main job is to suppress unwanted weed seeds from germinating. Both the seasonal mulch applications support the enrichment of the sandy soil.
A few considerations I will point out as they relate to mulch. Firstly, taking care not to apply the mulch right up against the plant, shrub or tree. One needs to make sure that oxygen and moisture reaches the plant. Layering too much mulch too close to the base of the plant can result in starving it from the critical resources it needs to survive and thrive and thus making it weaker and more susceptible to disease. Secondly, being sure not to cover up young plants (or recently planted seeds) with mulch. Many seeds – including most native plant seeds – require light to germinate.
In terms of selecting the right mulch for the garden, it should be the one best suited for your garden and your finances. The cheapest, and I would argue best, option is using mulched leaves from your yard. With the exception of some trees – like oaks or black walnut – most leaves will gently decompose over 12-18 months and provide wonderfully rich nutrients for the garden.
Alternatively, one could use fresh wood chips but these tend to be better suited for walkways and paths as they will soak up too much nitrogen from the soil thus potentially depriving your garden plants of the nitrogen they need to thrive.
