Several years ago I decided to forgo the annual trip to my neighborhood store for the purpose of filling my trunk with bags of mulch and order from the neighborhood boy selling truckloads of mulch as a sport fundraiser.  We had recently moved to a new home and I didn’t have a clue how much mulch I would need to adequately cover the 10 large garden beds that had been designed by the previous owner.  “20 yards,” I told him.  The next week an enormous truck backed up my drive to dump a pile as big as you see pictured above.  The neighbors came out to see the mountain, all shaking their heads at my folly.  I used every bit of that mulch but it took weeks of nighttime and weekend shoveling to get the pile to disappear. 

Why do we subject ourselves to the backbreaking effort of refreshing our garden beds with mulch.  Is it really that important?

Well the  National Resources Conservation Service calls mulching one of the “simplest and most beneficial practices you can use in the garden.”

They offer the following benefits to mulching:

• Protects the soil from erosion
• Reduces compaction from the impact of heavy rains
• Conserves moisture, reducing the need for frequent waterings
• Maintains a more even soil temperature
• Prevents weed growth
• Keeps fruits and vegetables clean
• Keeps feet clean, allowing access to garden even when damp
• Provides a “finished” look to the garden

How much is enough?  The NC University published an article on  Mulching Trees and Shrubs  and offered up this little chart to help you determine the amount of mulch you might need.

Amount of Organic Material to Cover 100 Square Feet of Area.

Garden Guides provides a pretty extensive listing of the different types of mulch and offers the pros and cons of each one.  If you are looking for advice on the type of mulch - visit their great Guide on Selecting Mulch. 

Photo courtesy of Angel Garden Center.

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