IN THE GARDEN
Mulching reduces weed competition, provides health benefits for plants, soil
Get mulching to keep those pesky weeds in check.
Although I squeeze the plants together to fit them all in the garden, it is better to spread them a bit to reduce competition and increase air circulation.
Spacing out your plants also gives a visual impact because it lets you appreciate each plant’s distinct form.
Weed control: If you make space between plants, you make space and resources available to the weeds. Mulch is a thick layer of material placed on the soil around your plants. It provides a barrier that keeps the weeds down and prevents seeds that land on the surface from reaching the soil to sprout. You’ll still have to keep on top of weeds but there will be far fewer of them.
Soil protection: A layer of mulch protects the soil from water and wind erosion. Because it slows the flow of rain water over the soil, it increases the amount of water that can percolate into the soil.
Root protection: Plant roots typically don’t like wide swings in temperature and moisture and mulch moderates these. In winter, plant roots can take sub-zero temperatures, but they are more damaged by repeated thawing and freezing. Mulching late in the fall, after the ground is frozen, is especially important in keeping the roots from thawing and freezing too often before spring.
Slow and steady fertilizing: Mulching with natural materials, such as leaves, seaweed, compost or grass clippings, also supports plant health by enriching the soil as it gradually decays. Soil bacteria, critters and fungi break it down at a natural rate, into nutrients that the plants can use.
Inorganic mulches (non-living materials) such as stones, gravel or even plastic sheets, generally do not break down to provide any kind of nutrients for plants, but because of this, they control weeds for longer, if applied properly and maintained. The seeds of some stubborn weeds can land and become well established in the top of these materials, so keep ahead of them. These mulches are used more for landscaping, rather than small-scale gardening, but they can be used in fun and creative ways.
Here are some considerations when choosing an organic mulch (mulch made from once-living materials):
• Look for materials that you can get easily in large quantities, and plan to replenish over time.
• Fresh manure must be decayed a bit first, or it will damage plants.
• Plant matter is often richer if it is already partly decayed, but I also mulch with weeds that I pull from the garden, unless they are full of seeds.
• For your flower bed, use a material that keeps a neat appearance as it breaks down.
• It should be coarse enough that it doesn’t pack down to prevent air and water from reaching the soil. Depending on the material, it should be at least two inches thick.
• Materials that break down quickly will release their nutrients quickly, but also disappear quickly.
• Like our own food, health comes from a balance between nutrients and fibre. If a material is too woody, you’ll need to balance it with something nourishing like manure or green plant matter.
• Beware of using mulch that harbours weed seeds. Hay is seedy, straw is less so, but many people use them. If you see weeds coming, just get ahead of them.
• Absorbent materials will act as a sponge and store
water for your plants for drier times.
• In some wet conditions, mulch can be a problem because it harbours too many slugs.
Maintenance: No matter
what mulch you use, it requires a bit of routine maintenance to be effective. Pull the weeds that appear, especially before they go to seed.
Caroline Cameron lives in Strathlorne, Inverness County, and offers gardening and guiding services around Cape Breton Island. She welcomes your gardening comments and questions at strathlorne@gmail.com and on Facebook at Nature/ Nurture Gardening & Hiking.