Going Bare is Out, Covering up is in

​Cooler weather is fast approaching, which means it is time to look ahead in your gardens. Fall is a perfect time to assess your mulch needs in the landscape and gardens. Bare soil is OUT. Covered soil in IN. Do you have at least 2-3 inches of mulch around your plants to help them survive the freeze/thaw cycles of our Midwest winters? 

What is Mulch

Contrary to what many people think of when they hear the word mulch, woodchips are not the only type of mulch. Mulch is any natural or synthetic material that covers the soil. Compost, straw, shredded wood, shredded or composted leaves, newsprint, landscape fabric/geotextile, plastic, wool, living plants, plant material, and rocks are all examples of “mulch”.
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Living mulch deserves a little more attention than we tend to give it. The concept of living mulch entails using plants to cover the soil instead of, or in addition to, the mulch options listed above. The best living mulches fill in a space, create wildlife habitats, reduce weed pressure, and create a mini ecosystem within the greater ecosystem.  Monoculture mulch options include strawberries for full or partial sun or wild ginger, Asarum canadens, for shady areas. Biodiverse plant species planted densely versus the standard sparse landscape plantings is also considered a living mulch as it regulates soil temperature, reduces weed pressure, creates a more diverse wildlife habitat, helps with water infiltration, and reduces runoff. Choose well-behaved species for smaller gardens if the goal is to keep the design intact over time. For larger gardens or more informal spaces where the goal is to fill in organically, a mix of well-behaved and species that will fill in over time are great choices to include in a design. 

Why Mulch?

Aside from aesthetics, do you know why we mulch? Below is a list of reasons why mulch (e.g., covering the soil) is so important!
Using proper mulching practices can:

1. Improve plant productivity and health
2. Conserve water by reducing irrigation needs
3. Stabilize soil temperatures
4. Prevent heaving from freeze/thaws
5. Reduce and prevent soil erosion
6. Reduce fertilizer and/or nutrient leaching
7. Reduce the spread of soilborne pathogens on susceptible plants (e.g., tomatoes)
8. Increase organic matter in the soil 

How Much Do You Need?

Mulch Calculator

​To calculate the amount of mulch you need for your farm or garden, you can use this tool created by Marion County Soil & Water Conservation and the NRCS. 
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Where Can You Find Mulch For your space?

How to Mulch

​The depth of the mulch depends on your goals, the type of mulch and the location. When mulching a landscape bed, the goal is usually aesthetic along with moisture retention, soil temperature stabilization and weed control. In a landscape application, a 2–3-inch depth is sufficient. Mulching prevents weed seeds that are in the soil from germinating. It does not prevent weed seeds dropped on the surface of the mulch from germinating, so some weeding is always necessary. Mulch should always be kept around 3-6 inches from the base of any plant.
When mulching an edible garden, it is important to select the right mulch for the plant and the season. If you are trying to warm the soil, a darker mulch is ideal. If you are trying to cool the soil, select a lighter mulch, like straw.
Interested in learning more about mulching practices, check out the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s document on Mulching for Small Farms and Gardens. 

Sources

https://www.hutton.ac.uk/sites/default/files/files/Soils-A5-booklet.pdf
Conservation Practice Standard Mulching (Code 484) (usda.gov)
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