Benefits of Mulching:

  • Mulching helps to keep soil moist by reducing evaporation and protecting the soil from direct sun light. Mulching can reduce watering by up to 60 percent.
  • Mulching helps to prevent and suppress weeds which compete with plants for moisture and nutrients.
  • Mulching helps to maintain a constant soil temperature.
  • Once broken down Mulches from organic matter add nutrients to the soil.
  • Mulching can prevent soil movement and run off.

 

There are plenty of reasons to mulch, but which type should you use?

Chunky mulches are most effective at allowing moisture to reach the soil and reducing evaporation.  Fine mulch can actually remove moisture from the soil.

Pea Straw, Lucerne and Sugar Cane Mulch

Not much makes your veggies as happy and cosy as a good layer of lucerne or pea straw. Straws are ideal for Veggies, herbs, fruit trees, roses and flowers.
These mulches break down fast, adding nitrogen to the soil, great for poor soils.
Pea straw takes around 6 month to brake down quickly adding improvement to the soil.
Lucerne takes a bit longer around 9 months and has a higher nutrient content.
Organic Sugar Cane is readily available, ideal for organic gardening.

Bark and Woodchips 

Barks and woodchips take much longer to break down and are perfect for native gardens and established plants.
When using wood or bark mulches it is well worth adding some blood and bone to compensate for any nitrogen loss caused by the decomposition process.

Leaves and Grass clippings 
Leaves and grass clipping can either be added to your compost or straight to the garden as mulch, they break down fast adding organic matter to soil. Remember to reapply regularly.

Pebbles and Gravel

Pebbles and gravel provide a long lasting mulch and keep soil warm, which is great in winter but may not be suitable over summer months for many plants. Best suited to hardy heat loving plants.

Living Mulch 

In fire prone areas organic mulches may not be suitable around the defendable area of a house. Many Australian native ground covers have low flammability foliage. Ground covers reduce water loss, keep the soil alive, suppress weeds and may provide food and habitat for insects and birds. Some lovely plants are;

  • Cut-leaf Daisy (Brachyscome multifida) – Full sun to semi shade. Flowers most of the year.
  • Inland pigface (Carpobrotus modestus)- Part shade to full sun. Flowers Sept -Oct. Can be slower to establish and less invasive than some ground covers.
  • Kidney weed (Dichondra repens)- Best in shade, may tolerate full sun if kept moist.
  • Creeping Booblialla (Myoporum parvifolium)- Fast growing and drought tolerant, responds well to a good prune.

Compost 

Compost adds humus to the soil and breaks down fast.
It is best used as a soil conditioner and covered with a layer of straw.

Five easy steps to applying mulch

  1. Remove weeds.
  2. Give the soil a good soak.
  3. Add compost, particularly if you are planting new plants.
  4. Apply mulch keeping from making direct contact with plants.
  5. Apply straws at a 6 -7 cm thickness, slightly less for bark or wood mulches.

Remember to reapply organic mulches regularly. Happy Mulching!