Have you ever heard of mulch in the garden but don’t know what it is? Our experts tell you everything about its usefulness. You will have all the cards in hand to fully satisfy your plants, the soil of your garden, and especially yourself! Give your garden an aesthetic look according to your tastes with a wide range of mulches. We present to you just here!
What is mulch and what is it used for?
You must have noticed, but in nature, bare soils do not exist! They are immediately covered with plants of all kinds, all having a specific role. They are more commonly called â  weeds  â. Does that remind you of something? For many gardeners, they represent a constant source of anxiety in the garden. This is where the mulch comes in! It is a sort of ground cover. There are different types to meet the needs of your garden and provide it with everything it needs to make it shine. âïž
One of the main functions of mulch is to preserve soil moisture. It will ultimately act as a protective layer that will capture humidity, store it, and then redistribute it to the earth and plants. When the soil is not covered with mulch (or mulch), water tends to evaporate more easily without nourishing your plants as it should. The second advantage of mulch is its insulating function. It will help maintain more stable temperatures. In summer, it prevents the earth from becoming too hot, while in winter it protects against freezing temperatures. Soil erosion is also kept away thanks to mulch. Eh yes! Rain and wind will have less negative impact on its surface. This is particularly important on slopes, for example.
When it comes to weeds, mulch will be your best friend! By preventing the sun from reaching them, their growth will be limited. You will save a phenomenal amount of time weeding. Over time, you will be able to watch your mulch layer (if it is organic) break down and mix with the soil. In addition to improving its structure by making your land looser, it will above all release beneficial nutrients for your garden. Quickly, you will be able to observe your plants becoming more vigorous, resistant, and flamboyant. And to round off all the wonderful advantages of mulch in the garden, what could be better than emphasizing its appearance? Mulching your garden represents the final touch to your layout! This makes it possible to standardize all the beds and thus highlight the elegance of each plant.
Psst, if you like originality, you can even add a touch of colorful decoration by combining several types of mulch. So, do you want to discover them?
Which type to choose and what will they bring?
It is possible to âmulchâ with a lot of materials, everything will depend on your resources and the needs you want to bring to your garden. The aim is above all to use products that will have no harmful impact on your land and to favor those that fertilize the soil. To put it simply, there are 4 main types of mulch.
1/ Organic mulch
Organic mulch will allow you to protect the feet of your plants in a completely natural way. It includes materials of plant origin that you can find in nature. They will decompose more or less quickly on your soil to provide it with essential nutrients for the proper development of your plants. Here is a selection:
- Garden waste: You can combine leaves, twigs, grass clippings, and other plant waste to use as mulch. Break them down before installing them at the base of your plants to allow them to adapt as best as possible to their new living space. Over time they will provide nutrients to your soil.
- Flax mulch: It will help protect the soil and effectively maintain its humidity. It gives a finished look to the garden and this is what we install in our Draw Me A Garden gardens. In addition to its aesthetic appearance, it decomposes slowly to deeply enrich the soil.
- Dead leaves: Do dead leaves invade your garden in autumn? They can also be used in mulch! In addition to clearing your land, they offer thermal protection and improve the structure of the soil.
- BFR: BFR or rather, Bois Raméal Fragmenté is made up of small shavings from fresh tree branches. You can do it yourself from trimming hedges and trees. BFR allows plants to stand like a real forest where nutrient-rich branches decompose on the soil to nourish them over the years. No need to worry, it stays in place for several years.
- Pine bark: Pine bark mulch comes mainly from maritime pine and is appreciated for its beautiful orange-brown color. It is ideal for placing at the feet of your robust plants and will not decompose for 5 or 7 years. Furthermore, it has an acidifying effect on the soil in the long term, so be sure to find out about the needs of your soil before installing it! At Draw Me A Garden, we especially appreciate it for its enhancement of plant foliage.
2/ Inorganic mulchđ©âđŸ
Inorganic mulch is a less ecological and less economical alternative to organic mulch. There is still a way to mulch the soil of your garden to prevent weeds from growing and protect it from external aggressions.
Biodegradable plastics: Some types of biodegradable plastics are designed to break down over time. They can be used as an alternative to traditional plastics but you must take into account their environmental impact. There are plenty of more natural and lower-cost ways to mulch, why not take advantage of them?- Mulch Fabric: Mulch fabrics are water and air-permeable while preventing weed growth. This is a type of mulch often adopted by landscapers.
Biodegradable plastics: Some types of biodegradable plastics are designed to break down over time. They can be used as an alternative to traditional plastics but you must take into account their environmental impact. There are plenty of more natural and lower-cost ways to mulch, why not take advantage of them?3/ Mineral mulch
Although our Draw Me A Garden experts do not recommend it, mineral mulch is still appreciated for its aesthetic appearance. Beyond the appearance of your garden, it is important to maintain a rich and varied biodiversity. We must therefore keep in mind that this aspect is sometimes threatened by the excessive presence of minerals in the garden. That being said, here is a selection of mineral mulch to place in your beds:
- Crushed stones: This mulch is particularly durable and will not decompose. It effectively slows down the arrival of unwanted weeds. However, save it for areas where you don’t care about the physical appearance of your garden, it’s not the most aesthetically pleasing mulch.
- Pebbles and gravel: They are used to create decorative landscaping. You won’t be able to see them decomposing on your soil but will be very effective at draining water.
- Crushed slate: Above all, it will create durable and attractive mulch surfaces. With certain plants, the color of the slates can contrast perfectly creating vibrant beds.
4/ The more special mulches đ„
As we pointed out previously, it is possible to âmulchâ with all kinds of more or less natural materials. Do you want to opt for more originality? Does your soil need different nutrients? You will find the type of mulch that sui
ts you!
- Cocoa hulls: They are light and rich in nutrients for your soil. But its particularity lies in the smell it gives off in the garden. For gourmet gardeners, you risk waking up your appetite every time you pass through your corner of greenery!
- Eggshells: Crushed eggshells can be used as mulch to provide a dose of calcium to the soil. Finally, instead of putting them in the compost, place them directly at the base of your plants!
