– by Colin Eaton, Garden City Tree & Landscape Ltd. –
You’ve probably heard it said that you should take everything in moderation … or you can get too much of a good thing. But mulch is one of those things that provide benefit the more you use. It benefits your garden at every time of the year in a number of important ways.
In the Spring & Summer
Spring or summer is an ideal time to prepare your garden beds with mulch. During this time, mulch helps to nourish and protect your soil from wind, rain and sun. It also helps retain moisture which is so important as we experience
drier summers.
Another reason we recommend mulching in the spring is that it helps you take control of your garden. Proper mulching can reduce the need to weed by as much as 75 – 85 percent!
In the Fall
In the fall mulch protects the soil from the cold and rains. This protection is vital for the micro organisms in the soil. Protecting them provides the long term health of your garden. Mulch in the fall also continues to keep weeds to a minimum. Unless you love weeding, and few of us do, mulching saves time while contributing to the health of your plants
What type of mulch to use?
Any mulch is better than no mulch but avoid Cedar chips as these are anti microbial and will have an adverse affect on your garden. Leaf or bark mulch is excellent for many reasons;
• Keeping weeds down,
• Cutting down on watering time,
• Feeding and protecting your soil from compaction and exposure,
• Improving your plant’s overall health.
Leaf mulch breaks down quicker than bark mulch so it provides quicker nutrient to the soil. Leaf mulch is the choice if your garden is in need of nutrient now. Bark mulch takes about twice to three times as long to break down than leaf mulch and is an ideal choice after you have used leaf mulch for a season or two.
Whatever choice you make, choose to mulch sooner than later. Your garden will love you for it!
For more information visit www.victoriagardencity.ca.
