12 Sep 2008
Mulching Tips for Valley Center
· Question: This year I planted a large flower bed in my yard. I’m tired of weeding! Do you recommend I put plastic down to suppress the weeds? S.O., Valley Center
· Answer: Plastic will slow weed growth, but there is a better solution. Try mulch. There are many different types of mulch, so you will need to choose which one is right for you.
o Cocoa Mulch: this is an expensive mulch that keeps your plants moist while suppressing weeds. It disintegrates slowly and provides fertilizer for your plants as it decomposes. It also will discourage squirrels, deer, coyotes, gophers and cats from your plants, as the mulch is sharp and animals usually don’t like to walk on it, nor do they like the scent. It has one BIG drawback however – it is toxic to your dogs. It contains theobromine, which is toxic. If you decide to use Cocoa Mulch, you should plant it no more than 2” in depth.
o Pine Needles: great mulch! Cheap too! If you don’t have pine needles, one of your neighbors probably does. There are a few drawbacks to pine needle mulch – You will need to use this carefully, as it will burn easily in a fire. Pine Needles have been known to ‘flash’. Check with our Fire Department if you have any questions about this. Also – this mulch is very acidic. It will disintegrate in about 3 years. You should monitor the soil’s acidity with soil test kits, as you will need to add lime to decrease the acidity.
o Peat Moss: fairly expensive to use as a mulch on top of the soil and absorbs a lot of water. It will keep your plants moist but absorbs a lot of water itself. When the peat moss dries out (and under our strong sunlight it will dry out quickly), it will absorb 600% of its weight in water before allowing the water to get to your plant’s root system.
o Wood Chips: fairly inexpensive and readily available (especially if you are preparing for fire season by thinning your landscape). Wood chips will last for about 2 years and look great in your flower bed. Before you add them, be SURE to add nitrogen to your soil, as the chips, when first applied, will rob the plants of nitrogen. Another potential problem is fire danger. If you use wood chips, you will need about 4” in depth for moisture retention and weed discouragement. You should NOT allow wood chips to dry out – they then become fuel for a fire.
Lots of choices! Once you have decided which mulch to use, then determine the amount of mulch you will need. Simply multiply the length of your garden by the width, then multiply this number by the thickness you will apply (inches converted into feet). You will then arrive at the cubic feet required to do the job! Example: 10’ x 5’ flower bed = 50’ with 3” of mulch thickness = .25 feet. 50 x .25 = 12.50 cubic feet of mulch.
Mariellen Kast
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