Organic Mulch

Organic mulches are considered anything that was once living, like wood chips, straw, composted yard and garden debris. Organic material decomposes and becomes incorporated into the soil supplying fuel to the soil food web to produce nutrients for plant life.

Organic hardwood mulch is available commercially by the truck load or by the bag full from your local nursery. Use your existing leaves and grass as mulch or start a compost pile to recycle your yard waste.

Apply organic mulch to all garden beds to a depth of 3 to 4 inches. Each year replenish the mulch that has broken down to fertilize the bed.  Add 1 to 2 inches or as needed each year

Not only are organic mulches better, they are cheaper and can be produced from organic material that already exists in your everyday life that you might normally throw away.

 

Benefits of Organic Mulch

1. Provides organic matter and fertilizer

2. Conserves moisture by slowing evaporation

3. Prevents weed growth by stopping germination

4. Insulates the soil by maintaining even soil temperature in summer and winter

5. Prevents erosion by eliminating soil crusting and increasing water penetration and aeration