What You Need To Know About Mulch

When people talk about mulch, they often refer to it as if it is all the same. However, there are multiple kinds of mulch that you can use in your garden and as landscaping around your home. 

The two broad categories of mulch are organic and inorganic mulch. Organic mulch is made to decompose and thus has to be replenished over time. Inorganic mulch is made from materials that do not decompose and thus do not have to be replaced very often, if at all. 

Organic Mulch

There are various kinds of organic mulch made from different materials. Different materials can have different impacts on the soil's drainage, aeration, and structure. Organic mulch is often the preferred type of mulch as it can add value to the soil it is used with. 

Composed Animal Manure

There is nothing like well-composed animal manure when it comes to mulch, especially if you are using the mulch in your garden. Animal manure can add lots of nutritional value. However, it can also harbor disease and burn plant roots, so be selective about the type of animal manure and how much of it you use in your garden. 

Cocoa Chips

Another great source of mulch is cocoa chips. They smell good, but they are lightweight and easy to handle. The downside is that this is an expensive form of organic mulch, and it tends to decompose quickly. It works best around plants that don't need a lot of watering. 

Grass Clippings

Grass clippings are one of the most classic types of organic mulch, as you can make it on your own, using the grass clippings from around your yard. When applying grass clippings to your plants, be sure not to layer them on too thick. You could end up with a mat that blocks out moisture if you do.

Straw

Straw is a great type of mulch, especially oat and wheat straw. It works well when you put down new lawn seeds. Avoid hay, which has seeds in it and could add to weeds in your yard. Use straw that doesn't have seeds. 

Wood Chips

One of the most classic types of organic mulch is wood chips, also referred to as bark or nuggets. Wood chips are actually by-products of both paper and lumber production. The by-product is dried out, often aged, and commonly died black or red, then sold again. A significant advantage is that wood chips take longer to degrade than most organic forms of mulch.

Inorganic Mulch

Inorganic mulch doesn't do much for the soil quality but can help protect the soil and add to the aesthetics of your space. 

Small Rocks

Small rocks in many forms, such as pea gravel, marble chips, and crushed gravel, don't break down. They are great for areas such as walkways and pathways where you want to put down something natural that will not break down. 

Be careful using small rocks or stones around plants or trees, as they can put heat stress on plants by reflecting heat. They can also heat up the ground, resulting in burned roots. 

Plastic Fabric

Plastic fabrics and film are designed to be impermeable, which means water and other things can't pass through them. Plastic films are often used to kill weeds but are not great to keep in place long term, as they keep water and nutrients from your plants. 

Think carefully before using mulch, as many different types of mulch work in different ways. Know where you want to use it and what you want to achieve before getting mulch delivery.