– by Colin Eaton, Garden City –
Are you looking for that edge that will make your landscape the envy of the neighbourhood? Are you sick and tired of weeding your flower beds week in and week out? Are you wondering what you can do to prepare your landscape for winter?
Mulch is the probably the most under rated and under used product in landscaping. It is simply the number one thing you can do to improve your landscape at any time of year. Mulch has so many benefits:
• Mulch provides a vital litter layer to protect the soils from cold weather, heavy rains, wind and snow the Capital Region can experience in a winter. Without this protection, the soil is exposed and subject to erosion, compaction or saturation.
• Mulch works to regulate the temperature in the soil by providing a matting layer of protection, so even if it does snow, the soil has its blanket!
• Mulch provides protection for the many micro organisms in the soil while also breaking down to provide food for these micro organisms. Without these micro organisms, your soil is lifeless and of little benefit to your plants.
• Mulch has an incredible capacity to hold water and release it as required. So instead of your soil becoming saturated by winter rains, the mulch acts as a buffer to trap and hold excess water. This capacity is vitally important when spring and summer arrive.
• Mulch provides a layer of protection so any airborne weed seed is trapped within the mulch. Without a litter layer, the weed seed comes in contact with the exposed soil and easily germinates. Mulch will reduce the need to weed significantly and who doesn’t want to weed less!
What type of mulch to use?
Typically I use both leaf mulch and bark mulch but in both instances I recommend using only fine ground mulch. The fine grinding ensures quicker decomposition of the mulch so your flower beds benefit sooner than later. Leaf mulch typically lasts 10 to12 months while bark mulch can last 18 to 24 months. A layer of two to three inches is sufficient but if you want to lay it on thick, the plants will not complain.
Whatever choice you make, choose to mulch sooner than later. Your garden will love you for it!
For more information visit www.victoriagardencity.ca
