Making Gardens Healthy and Alive with Mulch

Throughout the winter, many gardeners mulch their yards. They are preparing for spring flower and produce festivals, and they want to give as much nutrition to their plants as possible. Applying a good layer of mulch enhances the beauty and health of garden plants and wildlife.

Gardeners put mulch around plants like bushes and trees to protect and feed their roots. A thick layer, about three to four inches, is enough to satisfy garden patches. Placing newspaper is a good way to keep the weeds out of it. Hand picking weeds from around plants is the most natural way to keep fresh mulch tidy.

The fastest way to beautify a rough dirt patch in a yard is to thrown down some mulch. The brown stuff is fresh and organic looking, so the space instantly looks more alive. With a little help, sunlight and water, flowers and herbs can quickly decorate the scene. Fresh mulch grows plants that are healthy and fragrant, so use the best quality stuff available. Tasty herbs are the result of good soil.

Mulch feeds the critters too. Garden animals like rabbits are drawn to herbs like fresh parsley. Bugs, worms and birds live off of the bits of plants and seeds decomposing in the ground. They are nature’s gardeners. Without animals, the soil is as good as dead. Worms are the most important, because they constantly churn the soil, which quickly decomposes it. High quality mulch smells clean and natural, and it attracts a strong population of gardeners.

Mulch can be applied throughout the year, even in winter. Make sure to weed the area first. Your mulch will decompose over time, and it will add more natural minerals to the soil. So, in addition to the immediate effects of mulching, a garden’s lifetime is improved in the long term.