Benefits of Mulch and Compost in the Garden
Increase the Harvest and Reduce the Workload With Simple Methods
Mar 9, 2009
These two simple garden techniques reduce the amount of time needed to control weeds and pests, supplement the soil, and add to a garden’s beauty. Using mulch and compost will result in stronger, more prolific plants, whether they are in the vegetable or flower garden.
Mulch Means Soil Success
Mulch conserves water, adds humus and nutrients, discourages weeds and gives the garden a nice appearance. The mulch keeps the soil moist around plants, reducing the need to water. It also builds healthy soil as it breaks down, which is the best long-term treatment for pests.
Garden soil that has been well mulched and periodically amended will require only about one inch of compost yearly to maintain quality.
Types of Mulch
It is important to use the right type of mulch for the plants and garden. The type of mulch will determine the kind of nutrients provided as it breaks down and mulch can give the garden a whole new look. Here are some tips:
- Pine needles or coffee grounds are great mulches for acid-loving plants like blueberries, azaleas and dogwoods.
- • Mulch can be biodegradable products that add compost to the garden or man-made products that can be re-used or stay in the garden. Newspaper, straw, leaves, black plastic, wood chips or rocks all make good mulches.
- Choose a mulch that suits the landscape design. Wood chips add a finished look; lava rocks are good in tropical gardens; white stones look nice in formal gardens; and a modern design can be complemented with chipped bluestone.
- Coarse-textured, loose, organic material is good for new plants in the garden.
The garden will be healthier, look great and provide an abundant harvest with the continued use of mulch. It is simple to use, is a great soil supplement, inexpensive and reduces some of the gardening workload.
Compost is Black Gold
Another great friend of gardeners is black gold, otherwise known as compost. Compost is simple to make and will add nutrients to the soil, lessening the need for additional soil supplements.
Compost is made from a balance of carbon and nitrogen. Carbon materials are usually brown – dead leaves, dry hay and wood chips. Nitrogen materials are usually green – grass clippings, food scraps and manure. The result is a rich compost that will nourish the soil.
Composting Tips
Using compost in the garden will provide ample benefits. Here are a few tips on this easy gardening technique:
- Compost encourages native earthworms, which will naturally till and condition the soil.
- Good compost is not too wet or too dry – like a wrung out sponge.
- Don’t work the compost into the soil too deeply. Eighty-five per cent of a plant’s roots are found in the top six inches of soil.
- A good starter will ensure the compost gets cooking quickly. Compost starters include aged manure, alfalfa meal, cottonseed meal and blood meal. A sprinkle of these nitrogen-rich materials will jump-start the microbes already in the pile.
Garden plants flourish with the extra nutrients added to the soil from compost. A healthy garden has fewer pests, meaning less work and more benefits.
Garden Improvement
Using mulch and compost are sure ways to improve any garden. Compost adds important nutrients to the soil for healthier plants. Mulch is a great way to reduce pests, watering and weeding, add a new look or texture to the garden, and acts as a soil supplement as it breaks down. These two gardening techniques are sure to add to the enjoyment and bounty of any garden.
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