To mulch or not to mulch?
For the last week, we Bakers have spread hardwood mulch throughout our 1-acre property. It's mid-May; we bought it in bulk from a supplier who cuts the wood up in Clinton County.
The supplier dumped the mulch on part of our driveway, allowing us to get the cars out. After that, Steve and I loaded it into his garden wagon and tractor, or in our new wheelbarrow. We also shoveled it into containers for smaller parts on the property.
We use mulch to make all our gardens match, to an extent. I also know that it improves the soil, and helps keep weeds down.
These assets came up again this year as I help others to design and shape gardens. Daughter Kirstin just finished an initial landscaping project at her home in Ankeny; she chose a hardwood mulch, as opposed to decorative rock. My argument was that mulch can easily and more cheaply be used in the garden in the first place, decorative stone can be added at another time. Stone is pricey, heavy, and plants struggle to thrive in rock. (But it also stays firmly in place, of course!)
Here's a good explanation on mulches online, with pros/cons listed: bhg.com, "All About Garden Mulches."
We chose to use brown hardwood mulches about 20 years ago, when we got more serious about landscaping the yard. Many of our neighbors use mulch, natural brown or in colored forms and it gives a consistency that I love. On the other hand, it's pretty hard garden work to apply the mulch, so there's that.
Last year we entered the colored mulch craze and bought black mulch. That was pretty cool! But it's more expensive and I bought it because we had a family wedding reception in the backyard. We don't use colored mulches on a regular basis.
I call around to check mulch prices in early May, with a focus on the delivery charges. When we buy the produce "from town," we have to pay up to $75 for delivery, and that's way too high.
Organic mulch improves the soil, looks nice, and adds consistency to the yard and garden style. That makes it worth the cost and trouble.
(Note: This is part of our property, with hardwood mulch, in rural Scott County. I use a minute of annuals (petunias are a favorite) and perennials in the landscaping.)
The supplier dumped the mulch on part of our driveway, allowing us to get the cars out. After that, Steve and I loaded it into his garden wagon and tractor, or in our new wheelbarrow. We also shoveled it into containers for smaller parts on the property.
We use mulch to make all our gardens match, to an extent. I also know that it improves the soil, and helps keep weeds down.
These assets came up again this year as I help others to design and shape gardens. Daughter Kirstin just finished an initial landscaping project at her home in Ankeny; she chose a hardwood mulch, as opposed to decorative rock. My argument was that mulch can easily and more cheaply be used in the garden in the first place, decorative stone can be added at another time. Stone is pricey, heavy, and plants struggle to thrive in rock. (But it also stays firmly in place, of course!)
Here's a good explanation on mulches online, with pros/cons listed: bhg.com, "All About Garden Mulches."
We chose to use brown hardwood mulches about 20 years ago, when we got more serious about landscaping the yard. Many of our neighbors use mulch, natural brown or in colored forms and it gives a consistency that I love. On the other hand, it's pretty hard garden work to apply the mulch, so there's that.
Last year we entered the colored mulch craze and bought black mulch. That was pretty cool! But it's more expensive and I bought it because we had a family wedding reception in the backyard. We don't use colored mulches on a regular basis.
I call around to check mulch prices in early May, with a focus on the delivery charges. When we buy the produce "from town," we have to pay up to $75 for delivery, and that's way too high.
Organic mulch improves the soil, looks nice, and adds consistency to the yard and garden style. That makes it worth the cost and trouble.
(Note: This is part of our property, with hardwood mulch, in rural Scott County. I use a minute of annuals (petunias are a favorite) and perennials in the landscaping.)
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