Mulching Mulch
Mulching Mulch
Pine Mulch Makes My Neighbors Jealous
Working in the yard is a fun and peaceful way to spend the day, yet if you have a big yard, it can seem to take forever just to keep up with it. In these cases, the best approach is to use mulch.
Mulching keeps down weeds, traps moisture, prevents topsoil erosion, and even keeps the soil around the plants at a stable temperature. This is incredibly important with newer plants or those with shallower root systems. Not to mention mulch looks better than bare dirt! The real question is which mulch is going to fit my needs?
It turns out finding the answer to that question is a lot easier than you might think. My extensive research has shows it's hard to go wrong with pine straw. For starters, some worry it may be too acidic. However it is only slightly acidic, and as the naturally occurring bacteria in the soil breaks it down, it gets even less so.
If you repeatedly use pinestraw over the course of many years, you can expect your average soil Ph to change by less than .5%. Considering that's less than than the pH-variation of rainfall, you're golden! That number is 4.5 - 5.6 incidentally, with an average of 5.0, although traditionally the 5.6 is what's been used.
So the reality is that pine straw works well for nearly all plant types. If you are concerned that your soil is borderline acidic to begin with, it might make a difference. You can also adjust the Ph factor in your favor by utilizing things such as lime to shift the soil towards alkalinity.
Since pinestraw works for most types of plants, you'll want to examine the advantages and disadvantages of choosing this type of mulch over another type. When it comes to cost, good luck finding a better deal than the pine straw! Not only does it offer one of the most inexpensive options it is also considered the easiest mulch to work with.
There is one more immense benefit of pine straw over the many other types of mulch, and in this case, I really did save the best for last! The best time to see pine mulch in action is if you wait for a good rain storm. Why? Just go out after the storm and look at all the neighbors who have used water logged wood chips, shredded bark or one of the many other popular mulching options Odds are you'll see your neighbor trying to get their mulch back into place along the flowerbeds, driveways, sidewalks, and even get out of their grass! Pine Straw will stay put for the most part and even looks its prettiest when wet.
In fact it is important to note that some of these mulches can actually become dangerous if they get into the yard. For example a lawn mower can fling chunks of shredded bark at pretty hefty velocities. This is definitely enough to cause a person bruises, break windows, and even dent siding. Run over pine straw with a mower and not so much!
The advantages of pine straw are huge, with almost no down side to it at all. Its effect on soil Ph is easily canceled out, it's easy to work with, inexpensive, and has a tendency to stay put. Even if animals or kids move it into the yard, it's still safe! Best of all, it's completely sustainable without damaging the environment. I suspect it will be a long time before anyone can find anything better, perhaps they never will.
About the Author
For 11 years, Custom Pine Straw has been a reliable wholesale distributor of pine mulch to professional commercial and residential landscapers, retail chains and individual retail companies across the U.S. We produce only the cleanest highest quality long pine needle and the finest pine mulch available on the market.
mulch for a steep embankment?
I live in newcastle NSW and am looking for a mulch that you can put on a steep hill garden that doesnt wash away but lumps together when it gets wet. I have heard names of Hoop pine mulch, bark fibre mulch, shredded mulch, environmental mulch, but there seems to be no places around that sell these mulches. Does anyone have any ideas?
Garden centers sell landscape bark just for the purpose you need. You can also use rock, which comes in many different kinds. Large building supply company's carry the landscape bark and rock too.
You want your mulch at least three inches deep. Any less will make for thin spots. A cubic foot will cover three square feet nicely. The mulch is usually sold by the yard or in bags.
Mulching Mulch
Get dirty with mulch - Mulching for vegetables, herbs, all plants and gardens. Soil and nutrients attracting earth worms.
|
|
Black & Decker MM1800 18-in Electric Rear Bag Mulching Mower $189.99 18-in Rear Bag Mulching Mower - MM1800. Mulch Plug. Rear-Bag Assembly |
|
|
Lawnmower mulch kit $16.99 Mulch kit turns every normally available lawn mower, from 38 cm wide, into a mulching mower, instantly. The sturdy square-edged nylon filaments chop the grass up finely, so that a natural biological fertiliser is produced. The Garden Master universal lawnmower mulch kit can be used without a clippings container (mulch function) or with the clippings container (this reduces the grass volume considerably, and the container requires less frequent emptying during mowing). Complete set consists of: reduction ring, distance washer, knife, square-edged nylon filaments (4 pcs). Set of 4 replacement nylon filaments |
|
|
Universal Lawnmower Mulch Kit $17.99 Mulch kit turns every normally available lawn mower, from 38cm wide, into a mulching mower, instantly. The sturdy square-edged nylon filaments chop the grass up finely, so that a natural biological fertiliser is produced. The Garden Master Universal lawn Mower Mulch Kit can be used without a clippings container (mulch function) or with the clippings container (this reduces the grass volume considerably, and the container requires less frequentemptying during mowing). Complete set consists of: reduction ring, distancewasher, knife, square-edged nylon filaments (4 pcs). |
|
|
Black & Decker CM1836 36V Cordless 18-in Mulching Rear-Bag Mower $319.99 36V Cordless 18-in Mulching-Rear Bag Mower - CM1836. 36V Charger. Rear-Bag Assembly. Safety Key. Mulch Plate |
|
|
Factory Reconditioned Black & Decker MM1800R 18-in Electric Rear Bag Mulching Mower $139.99 18-in Rear Bag Mulching Mower - MM1800R. Mulch Plug. Rear-Bag Assembly |
|
|
Factory Reconditioned Black & Decker CM1836R 18-in 36V Cordless Rechargeable Mulching Mower $259.99 18-in 36V Rechargeable Mulching Mower - CM1836R. 36V Battery Charger. Rear-Bag Assembly. Safety Key. Mulch Plug |
|
|
Factory Reconditioned Black & Decker CMM1200R 24V Cordless 19-in Mulching-Rear Bag Mower $279.99 24V Cordless 19-in Mulching-Rear Bag Mower - CMM1200R. 24V Charger. Rear-bag Assembly. Safety Key. Mulch Plug |
|
|
Arnold Corp. Arnold Corp. 21 in Univ Mulch Blade 490-100-0058 $23.1 21? univ mulch blade Commercial quality mulching blade that fits most brands of rotary mowers Features a unique 4 teeth design which lifts, cuts, and recuts grass and clippings thus producing a fine mulch Fits most brands but Does Not Fit Honda Harmony models, Lawn-Boy BBC model and Toro Recycler models with Atomic blades 21? Brand #: Arnold Corp. 490-100-0058 UPC: 037049943951 Keywords: lawnmower blade mulching replacement universal mulch |
|
|
Arnold Corp. Arnold Corp. 22 in Univ Mulch Blade 490-100-0059 $23.54 22? univ mulch blade Commercial quality mulching blade that fits most brands of rotary mowers Features a unique 4 teeth design which lifts, cuts, and recuts grass and clippings thus producing a fine mulch Fits most brands but Does Not Fit Honda Harmony models, Lawn-Boy BBC model and Toro Recycler models with Atomic blades 22? Brand #: Arnold Corp. 490-100-0059 UPC: 037049943968 Keywords: lawnmower blade mulching replacement universal mulch |
An Overview of Home-made Mulches
Mulch and compost are the two most important things that you can use for your garden. Every spring begins a new battle to keep your gardens growing green and healthy. Gardener's worst enemies typically are blight, drought, parasites and diseases and of course the dreaded weeds. There are two basic type of mulch, inorganic and organic. Inorganic mulches are things such as, gravel, pebbles, landscaping fabric and any items that do not decompose. Organic mulch decomposes and is made of all natural substances and is very easy to make right at home.
One of the best defenses for weed control is homemade organic mulch. Mulch reduces water loss through evaporation. Mulch adds nutrients to your soil and helps keep those pesky weeds at bay. An excellent source of mulch that is completely free is tree trimmings. Normally arborists have to pay to dispose of their tree trimmings so they will gladly give you a truckload. Depending on the truck size you might just end up with 10 cubic yards of wood chip for absolutely nothing. What a great savings especially since plants and flowers can get rather expensive. With wood chips you do have to be careful since they will draw termites and other insects. Small chips decompose very rapidly using nitrogen from the soil.
Pine bark is another great mulch and aids in weed control. Pine bark is very attractive mulch. It is dark in color and can be purchased in large particles down to shreds. If you are cutting down any pine trees then take the time to rent a shredder and shred the scraps of the tree for your springtime mulching. One of the weaknesses of pine bark is that it is very light weight and does not hold up well in heavy rains. Another benefit is the odor of pine bark, it is very fragrant. Another part of the pine tree is very useful in mulching and that is pine needles. Pine needles are excellent mulch for staying in place because the needles have a tendency to interlock making them stay better especially on little hills. Trees and shrubs that intake a lot of acid love pine needles as a covering because this type of mulch allows air, water and nutrients to penetrate easily to the soil.
Another type of homemade mulch is shredded leaves. Shred the leaves coarsely using a shredder or your lawn mower. Leaves are easy to obtain and they make attractive mulch. Leaves also improve your soil as they decompose. After the leaves decompose you need to dig them into the soil and add a fresh layer of shredded leaves back on top.
The best use for grass clippings is to leave them on the lawn. Grass clippings will decompose rapidly, adding nutrients back into the soil. A two-inch layer of grass clippings provides weed control if they are not full of weed seeds. It is best to build up the layer gradually using dry grass, not fresh clippings, to prevent the formation of a solid mat. Be careful not to use clippings from lawns that have been treated with herbicides.
If you are luck enough to live by a pecan processing plant you can use pecan shells as mulch. Pecan shells make long-lasting, attractive, dark brown mulch that is effective in retaining moisture in the soil. Pecan shells also decompose slowly so there is less maintenance with this type of mulch.
Once you have decided which type of home made mulch you are going to use you need to get your area prepared to apply the mulch. Weed your area thoroughly before laying the mulch down. Keep your mulch 2-3 inches away from plant and 6 -12 inches away from walls of buildings. Depending on whether you are using fine or coarse mulch will determine how deep you layer the mulch. Fine textured mulch will suffocate the roots of your plants resulting in poor growth. Coarse textured mulch allows good ventilation so it can be as deep as 4 inches.
You can save a lot of money by using home made mulch. By using home made mulch you are able to refresh your gardens and keep them looking sharp all season long. Enjoy every aspect of your gardening it is a direct reflection of you and your home. Using home made mulches it will add to the beauty of you're landscaping by providing a cover of uniform color and interesting texture to the surface. Best of luck with your gardening this spring.
About the Author
Craig Elliott is a freelance writer who writes about topics pertaining to home maintenance such as Lawn Care
|
|
Toro 51599 Ultra 12 amp Variable-Speed Electric Blower/Vacuum with Metal Impeller $74.97 Powerful and effective, the Toro Ultra 3-in-1 Blower, Vacuum, and Leaf Shredder makes completing yard work fun and easy. With air speeds up to 235 mph, this electric blower nevertheless is lighter, quieter, and cleaner than similar gas blowers. And with a sleek, ergonomical design, it's a tool that is easy to use and will grab your neighbors' attention. .caption { font-family: Verdana, Helvetica... |
|
|
WORX TriVac WG500 12 amp All-in-One Electric Blower/Mulcher/Vacuum $79.95 12A electric blower/vac, 10:1 mulching ratio, 210 mph velocity. Compact and lightweight, no need for assembly. Ergonomic design gives improved access to corners and tight spots. As seen on TV.... |
|
|
Greenworks 25022 20-Inch 12 Amp Electric Bag/Mulch/Side Discharge Lawn Mower $159.99 Maintenance Free & Environmentally Friendly No gas, oil or tune ups make it effortles...... |
|
|
Poulan Pro Gauge Wheel Kit for 42-Inch Decks GWN42 $26.99 ... |
|
|
Shop-Vac 9639000 6.5-Peak Horsepower Mulcher Yard Vacuum System, 32-Gallon $288.54 9639000 Features: -Heavy duty wet / dry vacuum.-Detachable blower.-We take the hard work out of yard work.-Made in USA.-Ratio 15:1. Specifications: -3 in 1 lawn care system.-32 gallon 6.5 peak HP. Assembly Instructions: -Assembly required. Dimensions: -Dimensions: 39'' H x 25'' W x 25'' D.... |
Mulching Mulch