Nothing says “spring” like the smell of fresh-cut grass and newly spread mulch. While mulch can really spruce up your lawn, it also provides a great way to keep weeds out and roots warm. To make sure you get the best out of your mulch, we have some tips for you to keep in mind.
Don’t over-do it
This is easy to do, especially if you are mulching for the first time. The thickness of mulch should be around 2”. The reason is if a plant is buried too much it’ll encourage the roots to girdle.
In addition to spreading the mulch, it’s easy to overestimate how much to buy. On average, a bag of mulch contains about 2 cubic feet. Check out this handy mulch calculator to save a few bucks!
NO volcanoes
Sometimes you see mulch mounds around trees, even some landscapers do that, but please don’t. The volcano mulching technique encourages bacterial and fungal diseases, which could kill your tree. To avoid too much moisture, simply make sure the mulch flares out evenly around the base of the trunk.
Weed Barriers
Many of us were taught that you should put a plastic or fabric weed barrier down before applying mulch. However, that’s not the case. Weed barriers can strangle roots and plants that are growing. They also compact the soil and make it harder when you actually do need to pull weeds!
Listen for more tips with Pat and our friends at Sundown Gardens.
For more gardening tips, tune into the Home and Garden Show, every Saturday, 9am-1pm.
