When it comes to gardening, one of the most important things to do is get your garden mulch correct. There are a plethora of different garden coverings available and that can make it all the more difficult in understanding what you need. So let’s start with the basics.
What Is Mulch?
Mulch is any organic (plant-based) or inorganic (stone, rubber, plastic) material that covers the top of your soil. It is used for a range of landscaping purposes for gardens, playgrounds, and other projects.
One of the main reasons for using a Garden Mulch is to keep weeds at bay. Mulch does this by blocking off the sun to the area you are covering and therefore the light source needed by the weeds to grow. When a garden is covered in mulch you will reduce your weeding dramatically and increase the visual appeal of the garden overall.
Using Mulch To Make Your Garden Look Great
The visual appeal is the next big factor in using a garden covering. At Manna Gum Garden And Building Supplies, we have several different types of mulch to help the avid gardener or landscape gardener get the best look for the garden. Now contrary to popular belief, there is almost no difference between the different types of bark. They are all very close in their properties for doing the job that mulch does. BUT they do look very different on the ground and that is where you can use these to make your garden stand out.
Here is a list with links to the different types we have in stock.
Terrecotta, Red, Long, Midnight Black, Forrest, Bush, Euca and Pine.
Garden Mulch Is Also The Best Way To Keep Moisture In Your Soil
As we get more and more affected by the changing weather, we Aussies are going to have to become better at managing our water. Covering a garden is the best way to lower garden water needs and preserve moisture. In the case of bark, you would need a good 5 cm cover over the area you are protecting and if you are using Sugarcane.
However, choosing the right mulch for your needs can be difficult. With so many kinds of mulch available, it’s a challenge to know which one is best for you.
Choose between organic and inorganic
The most common types of organic mulches are barks, leaves and wood chips. Organic mulch provides nutrients to your garden as it decomposes. This is an added bonus, but one downside is that you’ll have to replace from time to time. On the other hand, inorganic cover, such as stone (Scoria, Aggregate Tuscan Topping, etc), don’t decompose over time, and so, therefore, last as long as you want them there.
Beef Up Your Weed Protection
Most types of mulch offer protection against weeds, but there are other strategies you can use to stop weed growth. For instance, adding a layer of newspaper or weed matting under regular mulch can help keep weeds at bay. These types of cover are better at preventing weeds than mulch alone.
Landscape fabric/matting and plastic can also be used under traditional mulch to keep weeds away. But leaves, grass, and dirt can get on top of the fabric or plastic and make it decompose, which can cause weeds to grow above the layer of matting if left unchecked.
What Appearance Do You Want?
While appearance is certainly an important factor when it comes to choosing a garden covering, you should also keep in mind the needs of your garden. For instance, stone or rock cover is eye-catching but can look dirty when leaves or debris falls on the area. Unfortunately, stones don’t always stay where you want them to either. They can be moved by animals or even when you sweep nearby.
Keep In Mind Your Soil Type
Take a moment to consider your garden’s soil conditions before picking a mulch. Heavy or clay-like soil (common in Knox and surrounding areas) can dry out and become rock hard. In this case, a mulch that decomposes and helps aerate the soil can really help to make this ground better for your plants to thrive in. A decomposing Compost Mulch is great to help in this case, but it won’t provide as effective a weed barrier.
Alternatively a mulch that is really good at preventing weed cover like Terracotta Chip might not decompose at a rate that helps fuel growth in your garden.
What About Your Local Weather
If you live in an area with a lot of tree cover then it may be likely that a lot of weeds and plant matter might mix in with your mulch. Think about how this may cause problems and pick a mulch that is easier to keep debris free. Or go for a mulch that will help decompose the leaves that may land on your garden too.
Get your mulch from Manna Gum Building and Garden Supplies We offer a range of mulches for your garden supplies needs in Ferntree Gully, Rowville, and surrounding Eastern suburbs. No matter what you want to achieve in your garden, you can be sure to find what you need here! Our staff also know plenty about mulching and what works best for all types of gardens, so make sure you ask us how we can help you.
For enquiries or orders, please call us at (03) 9752 2434.