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Mulching
Each year, nature provides a blanket of mulch. While the leaves of deciduous trees are a fairly obvious ground covering each fall, there are many other natural “mulches.†Evergreen needles are also shed yearly. Grasses die back and their debris, along with that of perennials and annuals, covers the ground, only to be replaced by fresh growth in the spring.
This layer of mulch has many functions. It serves to suppress weeds, retain moisture, moderate the temperature of the soil, reduce compaction, decrease competition from other plants, improve soil structure, and provide nutrients to the soil. In our home gardens we remove debris to maintain an aesthetically pleasing appearance; however, this layer of organic matter is an important component in our gardens and can be left in place or replaced with organic mulch.
Learn the basics on organic mulching and its benefit
When placing mulch in your garden it is important to consider the texture of both the soil and the mulch.Â
Learn about bark, pine needles, wood chips and more!
Gardening Guide - Summer 2010
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Splendours of Summer » - Guest Column:
Snakes - Making Friends » - Feature Garden:
The Practical Gardener Goes Wild » - Feature Nursury:
Regina Plain Native Prairie Seed Nursery » - Feature Creature:
Northern Leopard Frog » - Feature Plant:
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