Mulch is a material that gardeners place over the surface of the soil to help in maintain
moisture. Also using the right kind of mulch in a garden can help to improve the condition of the
soil as well. In this article we explain a little bit more about the kinds of mulch, Wilmington
gardens should be using.
Of all the things that a gardener can do in their garden, laying down some mulch on soil which is
exposed to the elements ensures that the plants will remain healthy. This type of material is
actually very effective if the correct amount is laid down at preventing moisture loss from the
soil.
As well as preventing moisture from escaping from the soil this material when used can prevent the
growth of weeds. But the mulch needs to be applied to the soils surface correctly if it is truly to
be affective. If you lay too much or lay the wrong type of mulch you may end up causing more harm to
your plants than you thought possible.
Most gardeners when selecting mulch for their garden will use those that have been made from straw,
leaves, sawdust or bark. But as you lay it remember that you should not allow it to come up into
close contact with the plants it is being placed around. A gap around the plants should be left so
that the soil around the plants roots is able to get sufficient amounts of water, nutrients and
oxygen to help them grow.
Also you need to make sure that the mulch is of a good quality as one that has not been composted
correctly can be extremely harmful to the plants. In fact sour mulch as it is known will contain
toxins that could actually kill off rather than protect the plants that it surrounds.
The amount of mulch you actually lay on your exposed Wilmington garden soil will depend on the type
of material being used and what type of soil your garden has. A garden where the soil is sandy needs
to have around 3 to 4 inches of mulch laid on its surface to help it retain moisture more
effectively.
There are plenty of ready prepared mulch materials which you can get from your local garden center
or nursery. However, if you want to save money then why not make your own instead. Grass clippings
are a great mulch material although best used on vegetable rather than flower gardens as they can
look somewhat messy once laid. But they are free and can be collected and then used every time you
mow the lawn.
If you have an organic garden then you should only be using an organic variety of mulch on it. Most
organic mulch, Wilmington gardeners select to use has either been made from the own garden clippings
or from trees that have been shredded. Actually making your own can prove much more cost effective
than buying the bags from the local nursery or garden center. This kind of mulch also is worth
getting for a normal garden as it can enrich the soil underneath as well.
