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When to apply mulch
Time of application depends on what you hope to achieve by mulching. Mulches, by providing an insulating barrier between the soil and the air, moderate the soil temperature. This means that a mulched soil in the summer will be cooler than an adjacent unmulched soil; while in the winter, the mulched soil may not freeze as deeply. However, since mulch acts as an insulating layer, mulched soils tend to warm up more slowly in the spring and cool down more slowly in the fall than unmulched soils.
If you are using mulches in your vegetable garden or flower garden, it is best to apply them after the soil has warmed up in the spring. Cool, wet soils tend to slow seed germination and increase the decay of seeds and seedlings.
If adding additional layers of mulch to existing perennial beds, wait until the soil has warmed completely.
Mulches used to help moderate winter temperatures can be applied late in the fall after the ground has frozen but before the coldest temperatures arrive. Applying mulches before the ground has frozen may attract rodents looking for a warm over-wintering site. Delayed applications of mulch should prevent this problem as, hopefully, the creatures would already have found some other place to nest!
Mulches used to protect plants over winter should be loose material such as straw, hay, or pine boughs that will help insulate the plants without compacting under the weight of snow and ice. One of the benefits from winter applications of mulch is the reduction in the freezing and thawing of the soil in the late winter and early spring. These repeated cycles of freezing at night and then thawing in the warmth of the sun cause many small or shallow rooted plants to be heaved out of the soil. This leaves their root systems exposed and results in injury or death. Mulching helps prevent the rapid fluctuations in soil temperature and reduces the chances of heaving.
Applying mulch - Begin by asking yourself the following questions.
- What do I hope to achieve by mulching?
- Weed control?
- Moisture retention?
- Soil improvement?
- Beautification?
- How large is the area to be mulched?
- How much mulch will I need to cover the area?
- Mulch is measured in cubic feet. As an example, if you have an area 10 feet by 10 feet and you wish to apply 3 inches of mulch, you would need 25 cubic feet.
- Determine what mulch material to use and purchase or accumulate what you need.
- Mulch can often be purchased bagged or bulk from garden centers. Bulk may be cheaper if you need large volumes and have a way to haul it. Bagged mulch is often easier to handle, especially for smaller projects. Most bagged mulch comes in 3-cubic-feet bags.
- Compost—refer to the tip sheet on composting for information on how to make your own compost.
- Leaves
- Collect leaves in the fall.
- Chop with a lawnmower or shredder. Whole leaves tend to compact if wet or blow away if dry. Chopping will reduce the volume and facilitate composting.
- Compost leaves over winter. Some studies have indicated that freshly chopped leaves may inhibit the growth of certain crops. Therefore, it may be advisable to compost the leaves over winter before spreading them.
- Grass clippings
- Spread them immediately to avoid heating and rotting.
- Newspaper
- Save your own newspapers.
- Only use newspaper text pages (black ink); color dyes may be harmful to soil microflora and fauna if composted and used.
- Use 3 or 4 sheets together, anchored with grass clippings or other mulch material to prevent blowing away.
- The amount of mulch to apply will be determined by the mulch material you are using.
General Guidelines: - Do not apply mulch directly in contact with plants. Leave an inch or so of space next to plants to help prevent diseases flourishing from excessive humidity.
- Remove weeds before spreading mulch.
| Multch Materials | | Amount to Apply | | Notes | | Bark mulch | | 2-4 inches | | Smaller chips are easier to spread, especially around small plants. Excellent for use around trees, shrubs, and perennial gardens. When spreading mulch around trees, keep the mulch an inch or two away from the trunk. A couple inches of mulch is adequate. There is no need to apply the mulch 6 or 8 inches high, as often is seen. | | Wood chips | | 2-4 inches | | Similar to bark mulch. If using fresh wood chips that are mixed with a lot of leaves, composting may be beneficial. | | Leaves | | 3-4 inches | | Best to chop and compost before spreading. If using dry leaves, apply about 6 inches. | | Grass clippings | | 2-3 inches | | Thicker layers tend to compact and rot, becoming quite slimy and smelly. Add additional layers as clippings decompose. Do not use clippings from lawns treated with herbicides. | | Newspaper | | 1/4 inch | | Apply sheets of newspaper and cover lightly with grass clippings or other mulch material to anchor. If other mulch materials are not available, cover edges of paper with soil. Applying on a windy day can be a problem. | | Compost | | 3-4 inches | | Excellent material for enriching soil. |
Bark mulch and wood chips are sometimes used with landscape fabric or plastic. The fabric or plastic is laid on top of the soil and then covered with a layer of bark chips. A caution to this practice: while initially the plastic or fabric may provide additional protection against weeds, as the mulch breaks down, weeds will start to grow in the mulch itself. The barrier between the soil and the mulch also prevents any improvement in the soil condition and makes planting additional plants more difficult.
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© 2004 Natural Resources Conservation Service
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