Types of garden mulch & how to use them

Garden mulch & how to use them

Mulch is layers of material that are placed to cover areas of growing soil or plain soil between plants.

There are two main types of mulch - organic mulch and non-organic mulch.

Within the first category, mulch contains organic matter that decomposes on the surface of the soil, and living mulch - living plants that are sown as land or green manure.

In this article, we will explore different types of mulch. First, we will cover the organic mulch, which has a huge range of benefits. Then, at the end of the article, we will look at some inorganic materials that you can choose from.

It can be difficult to choose which mulch for different areas and for different purposes. But read on, you will be introduced to a wide range of options. We will discuss the reasons for using each type and where they can be used.

Organic mulch

First, let’s start by looking at some common-purpose organic mulches that are beneficial when adding anywhere to your garden.

This mulch contains a wide range of beneficial nutrients, and they are forms of brown organic matter that enhance the structure and properties of your soil. These options are great for adding edible crops and other plants to your garden.

1. Compost

If you have not already made compost at home, it should be a high priority on your list.

Making compost is not rocket science, but mistakes like adding the wrong ingredients can happen. If you are new to composting, see my article on Common Fertilizing Mistakes.

All fertilizers are best used as mulch. But this means that worm molds from the earthworm composting system are especially good as a soil correcting mulch. Bokashi enzymes are excellent for feeding worms in such a system.

2. Well rotted compost

Well-rotted manure can also be used as mulch, but for most types of fertilizers, it is important to fertilize/age them first.

Different fertilizers have different benefits and different nutrient profiles. To learn more about using chicken manure in your garden, check out this article.

There are several types of fertilizers you can use in your garden:

Compost from other poultry and birds.

Livestock manure.

Horse manure.

Sheep manure.

Alpaca / Lama compost.

Rabbit manure (or waste from other small plant species such as guinea pigs, gerbils, or hamsters).

Manure of exotic animals that feed on plants such as elephants and rhinos (you can collect at the local zoo).

3. Leaf Mold

Another valuable organic mulch for your garden is leaf mold - the perfect way to use fallen leaves from your property. Leaf mold is basically dried leaves that are broken down to create a light and crumbly brown substance that you can use in garden beds. As you can see below, autumn leaves can also be used as mulch. But turning them into leaf molds means you can easily use them in a range of your pots and containers, your fruits and vegetables, and other textures.

Both partially decomposed leaf mold and the finished product can be very effective as mulch for general purposes.

4. Wood chip/bark/wood shavings

Wood chips and other wood products are also very useful as mulch. But you have to be careful where you use it. It looks good around fruit trees, mature shrubs, and woody perennials, but in the vegetable garden, it may not always be a good idea.

For more information on how to use wood chips as mulch, see my article on using wood chips in the garden.

5. Straw

Another carbon-rich material commonly used as mulch is straw. First, we take about straw, not straw. Straw can have a lot of weed seeds, which can be a problem if you use it as mulch in the cultivated vegetable land. It also has different characteristics and rots quickly.

Like other carbon-rich materials, straw can help build up when the soil decomposes. But since it is a mulch-like place, it is very useful for retaining moisture in summer and protecting shallow roots from cold in winter.