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The issue with wood chip mulch is it is heavy. Hasnt caused weeds. Think of it this way if it kills the weeds in your lawn, itll harm the veggies in your garden. 2022 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved. However, none of the prices of these resources have been increased to compensate us. Although it takes a little effort up front, mulching with straw will save you time in the long run when it comes to weeding and watering. Youre already convinced that mulching is essential for the vegetable garden. But what I didnt realize until recently is that there is a difference between wood chips and bark mulch. Straw makes a great mulch. You dont want to add any chemicals to your garden. Which means it will produce a less-than-desirable odor. Let us know in the comments below. My fruit trees and shrubs get mulched with bark or wood chips, and I mulch the perennial beds with cocoa shells or compost. In your vegetable garden, mulching with straw will give you a long list of benefits. Ill send you a free eBook as a Thank You! which is important when starting seeds. joegardener Online Gardening Academy Growing Epic Tomatoes. Consider using a plastic mulch during early spring. (2PM CST/12PM PST), WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2022 AT 8:00PM EST Its great at retaining moisture, its easy to apply, its readily available in most areas, and you dont have to worry about herbicide contamination. But if you have a bagger on your mower, you can collect the grass and use it as mulch. This won't delete the recipes and articles you've saved, just the list. This saves them costs on tipping fees and transportation, and you benefit too! Just plug it in and drop in the leaves. Nor should a dry, sandy soil be covered with plastic mulch, because it would prevent rain and irrigation water from seeping down to the roots. How Much Water Does My Vegetable Garden Need? I usually wait until they are about 6 high, but yes. Because of this terrible experience (Im just thankful I didnt mulch my entire garden with hay! (9AM CST/7AM PST), FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 2022 AT 10:00AM EST If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with that. You can sign up to be notified when enrollment opens. Use generous amounts from your compost bin (or pile) for the ultimate in mulch for the vegetable garden. I've had some great sweet potato and melon crops. But, it can take years to decompose so dont put them in your garden thinking they will be broken down by the next season. A good layer of straw mulch helps prevent diseases that are frequently spread by splashing rain. You can listen to the podcast episode below or continue reading the article. It will break down, improving the soil as it does by adding organic matter and nutrients. If you are worried that pine bark might rob nitrogen from your soil, dont be. Disclosure: Some product links in this guide are affiliate links, which means we would get a commission if you purchase. Not all vegetable plants like the same growing conditions. Wood chip mulch is great around ornamental plantings, though I only occasionally use it in the vegetable garden. If I didn't use mulch, I could never keep up with the weeds. I occasionally use straw in my garden to mulch. I especially like how easy they are to work with, and I love that leaves are plentiful and free every fall. Last year I finally got, Just a few more days!! (function() We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. As a mulch just sitting on the soil surface, thats not an issue. Joe Lampl is the creator and joe behind joe gardener. Craig LeHoullier joins me in leading this course on how to grow healthier, productive tomato plants and how to overcome tomato-growing challenges. She has worked in the field for over 40 years, and has been writing for 30 years. The gardens around my home in Richmond, VT, include a large vegetable garden, seasonal greenhouse, cutting garden, perennial gardens, rock garden, shade garden, berry plantings, lots of container plants and a meadow garden. You may hear recommendations to let wood chips rest before you put them on your garden. Disclosure: Some product links in this guide are affiliate links, which means we would get a commission if you purchase. Wood chips are mostly carbon but also add a bit of nitrogen if the leaves of the trees are included (also known as arborist wood chips). It was a small way to say thank you for the efforts. High soil temperatures can stress your plants and burn up organic matter. I have had issues with termites when using arborist wood chips near my home, though, so Id caution about that. So many options. (I know I did when I researched for this article!). Its readily available to most people and if they dont have any, their neighbor does. The light-colored straw I used kept the soil too cool. The garden looked a bit like a rummage sale, but the bags kept the weeds down. My garden hasnt suffered, and I havent seen a difference between my crops mulched with fresh wood chips compared to ones I use from a pile that has rested for a year. Cool-weather crops, such as broccoli and greens, don't want the extra heat from a plastic mulch. You must be a magazine subscriber to access this feature. Get our latest tips, how-to articles, and instructional videos sent to your inbox. Vining vegetables such as pumpkins or those that spread themselves wide like potato plants can be used as a mulch for other vegetables in the garden. Native Alternatives to Hostas (That Are Deer Resistant), Tour a Collectors Garden Filled With Artful Plant Combinations, Tools to Make Garden Chores Easier During Summer Vacation. Wood chip mulch also has the benefit of improving the soil as it decomposes in place. Although Ive done my best to provide the most up-to-date information, including my own experience of the past many years, if you have any questions or concerns about any of these methods, be sure and do your own research before covering your garden. Do not use clippings from lawns treated with herbicides or toxic pest controls. I find the juxtaposition of their, Today were off to Scotland to visit with Pat Colston. Even though my harvest was stunted that year, I was able to get some tomatoes. You might also consider removing the plastic in late July and replacing it with a water-permeable mulch, such as straw, newspaper or grass clippings. Rubber, plastic, stones and shells may be mulches, but they dont break down to improve my garden soil over time, so none is a mulch of choice for me. Hopefully, this article has given you some ideas as to what type of mulch may be best for you. Your email address will not be published. The newspaper blew around and looked terrible. (If you do, the video below shows you how, and its really not that big of a deal.). Most vegetable plants perform poorly in heavy, wet soil. Its important not to use the dyed bark mulch (as we so often see) as there are concerns about the dye leaching into the soil and your vegetables (not to mention the wood used in those dyed mulches is questionable). Over the years, I've mulched my vegetable garden with oat straw, newspaper, grass clippings, burlap coffee bags, leaves and black plastic. Results were mixed. Gather copious amounts of dry, fall leaves and use them in your vegetable bed immediately after collecting them. This mulch will allow rainwater and overhead irrigation to get down to the root zone, and will also help retain moisture. One of the biggest drawbacks to straw is that its a byproduct of wheat and other grains and because of this, there can be seeds leftover. Finally, lets talk about hay. ), I swore never to use hay again unless its guaranteed organic. You do need a very thick layer of it for it to offer optimum weed prevention. This offer applies to Economy Shipping only for orders shipped within the lower 48 states; it cannot be applied to items with additional shipping charges or faster shipping. Hear me when I say that I would never apply my homemade compost as mulch. This nitrogen tie-up will only happen where the wood chips come in contact with the soil and not where the plants take up nitrogen a few inches beneath. Our cottage, Cherry Ong is again taking us along to visit beautiful gardens, this time plantings in Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario. Because its light, you have to apply it on a still day where theres little wind. Similar to Chris comment, I am in a colder area and found mulching raised beds too early meant kale didnt grow in hindsight, I think the soil needed more time to warm up. But, your grass MUST be untreated grass. Ground pine bark mulch is also easy to spread and quickly works to improve your soil as it breaks down. This is a broadleaf weed killer used on a commercial scale. You dont have to worry about it robbing any nutrients if you decide to work it into the soil later. Im often asked what my favorite mulch is, and the truth is I dont stick to just one type. At the time of this writing, Joe Lampl has professional relationships with the following companies who may have products included in this post and podcast: Rain Bird, Corona Tools, Milorganite, Soil3, Exmark, Greenhouse Megastore, High Mowing Organic Seeds, Territorial Seed Company, Wild Alaskan Seafood Box and TerraThrive. A layer of natural mulch thats about two or three inches deep will suppress weeds, prevent compaction and erosion, retain moisture and create a barrier between plants and pathogens in the soil, among other benefits. Unlike many bagged mulches, arborist wood chips are free of dyes and pallet wood. Keeping the soil more evenly moist has many benefits. There was no particular method behind my madness. From time to time, I use wood chip mulch but not just any wood chips. We've updated our Privacy Policy, which will go in to effect on September 1, 2022. prevent diseases that are frequently spread, getting the most out of this type of mulch, insulating layer will promote beneficial microbes. Rita Pelczar is a lifelong gardener and experienced horticulturist. Please try again. Just be aware that the minimum delivery is quite large. Then, I bought hay that ended up being treated with aminopyralid. Just be sure to never confuse straw for hay there is an important difference. His lifetime passion and devotion to all things horticulture has led him to a long-time career as one of the countrys most recognized and trusted personalities in organic gardening and sustainability. I only promote items I personally recommend and think provide benefit to my readers. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. My favorite natural mulch and what I now use most often in my garden is shredded leaves. None of the items included in this list have any bearing on any compensation being an influencing factor on their inclusion here. Bark mulch wont have the nitrogen inputs that arborist wood chips have. Leave at least half your grass clippings on the lawn. If you expect plenty of rain or intend to use overhead irrigation, your plants' roots may be able to get the moisture they need from the pathways. Wood chips can be obtained from your local arborist and make a great natural mulch for the garden. {var cid=document.createElement("script");cid.async=true;cid.src="//seal.digicert.com/seals/cascade/seal.min.js";var s = document.getElementsByTagName("script");var ls = s[(s.length - 1)];ls.parentNode.insertBefore(cid, ls.nextSibling);}()); What we're doing, where we're going and what we're thinking, 2022 Gardener's Supply Company, 128 Intervale Road, Burlington, VT 05401 |, FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS OVER $125 - ENTER CODE, Garden Tools, Planters, Raised Garden Beds +More | Gardener's Supply, Choosing the Right Mulch for Vegetable Gardens, Polypropylene Weed Mat with Ground Staples, 3.25' x 98. The mulch I use most often is shredded leaves. There's no place I'd rather be than in the garden. Most of them blew away, except in the asparagus bed, where they work pretty well. The only negative that I would have to say about using compost as mulch is that its much more expensive than other sources and because its compost, its the perfect place for blowing seeds to take root. Burlap bags were effective. If youve been with me long, you know that I am a lazy composter, and I dont worry about getting my compost hot enough to kill any seeds/weeds. Make sure to let the soil warm up and dry out a bit before applying soil-cooling mulches. However, we receive no additional compensation from the sales or promotion of their product through this guide. You also want to make sure you dry out your grass clippings before you spread them onto your garden. I end up dampening my newspaper mulch no matter what and then cover it with soil. (You might hear this referenced as robbing the soil of nitrogen.) Contrary to what was previously thought, leaving wood chips or bark mulch on top of the soil wont tie up nitrogen near the plant roots beneath the soil. For example, an annual vegetable or flower garden thats going to be pulled up and replanted several times a year isnt the best candidate for wood mulches, in my opinion. High-quality, weed-free compost feeds your soil almost immediately (as opposed to other types of mulch needing to break down). Plant it around artichokes, onions, carrots, broccoli, cabbage, and beets as an effective weed barrier. (Fresh ones might.) The grass clippings came from a late-spring mowing and within three weeks, I had grass growing throughout my vegetable garden. "A good covering of straw mulch will keep plants cooler, minimizing stress in the hotter parts of the day," says North Carolina Horticulture Extension Agent Gene Fox. I put them down in the pathways over sheets of newspaper. Ive been looking for a mulch for a the veggie gardens of some of my clients. COPYRIGHT 2022 JILL MCSHEEHY | SITE BY MRM. "Regulating moisture throughout the day is key in preventing physiological problems such as fruit cracking and even blossom end-rot in tomatoes," says Fox. Straw and seedless hay are terrific for the vegetable garden, but be sure to layer it on thick. While any organic mulch is appropriate for the vegetable garden, sometimes there are strategic reasons to choose one over another. I'd like to receive the free email course. I get arborist wood chips, which are the chips from tree services that take down branches and old trees. Another solution is to install a sub-surface irrigation system beneath the plastic mulch. But when it comes to the vegetable garden, mulching gets a bit more complicated. You can use dry leaves as traditional mulch (like a blanket on top of the soil) or turn them under the soil (of an empty garden bed) and letting them bread down over the winter. joegardener Online Gardening Academy Growing Epic Tomatoes: Tomato expert Craig LeHoullier joins me in leading this course on how to grow healthier, productive tomato plants and how to overcome tomato-growing challenges. joegardener Online Gardening Academy Beginning Gardener Fundamentals. Lettuce is a very light eater so its not a big competitor for the other food crops. Wood chips are what you typically get in bulk from a local tree trimming service many times for free if they are in your area. To shred leaves, you can go over them with a mulching mower or put the leaves in a large pail and use a string trimmer. Confession wood chips are my mulch of choice and have been since I began my garden in 2013. I usually lay the paper down around five layers thick or more as newspaper decomposes fairly quickly. The benefits and drawbacks of pine needles are one and the same. (Pine straw is simply baled pine needles and is a good option for mulching ornamental beds.). I know that my leaves are free of pesticides, and they make an incredible soil amendment as they decompose. (Maybe thats why hay didnt add seeds to my garden like I hear it has done for others?). Still, those few weed sprouts are typically manageable, especially in a small garden like a raised bed. When hes not working in his large, raised bed vegetable garden, hes likely planting or digging something up, or spending time with his family on their organic farm just north of Atlanta, GA. Sign up for my blog updates and never miss a post. They'll be better off with straw, shredded leaves, paper mulch or newspaper. Use these tips when mulching with straw to help your vegetable plants thrive. There was an error submitting your subscription. You may find your plants stunted from the cold, turning yellow from too much moisture, and being chomped by an army of slugs. var __dcid = __dcid || []; One of the top reasons I love walking along Queen Street in, Back in May, Fine Gardening committed to planning and planting a garden for Karen, an emergency department nurse. These companies are either Brand Partners of joegardener.com and/or advertise on our website. Another perk to grass clippings is that you dont have to have as much (just a few inches will suffice), and it will also add nutrients and organic matter to your soil. But most plastic mulches are not water-permeable, which means that as the season progresses, your plants may go thirsty. Its easy to spread and lightweight. Living in the Interior of BC Canada a high concern is wildfires. Applied in early spring, the plastic will raise soil temperatures and help warm the air around the plants. Read my Privacy Policy, Disclaimer, and Terms of Use. For starters, straw is inexpensive, easy to work with, and good for your soil. I seem to have big issues with wood pieces being mixed in with my garden soil. (9AM CST/7AM PST), THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022 AT 3:00PM EST See full disclosure below. Inadequate moisture can stress your plants, lead to blossom-end rot problems on tomatoes, and diminish your overall harvest. I apply it between my raised beds where I dont want anything growing, and youd be amazed how well that works to prevent weeds and growth where I dont want it which also cautions me about using it near places I do want growth. Leaves are plentiful and free every fall and make an incredible soil amendment as they decompose. My second choice for mulching my garden is applying weed-free, seed-free compost. The volume will be reduced 11 to 1. : Popular courses on gardening fundamentals; managing pests, diseases & weeds; seed starting and more. "Some of my best strawberry patches are with a straw mulch between rows," says Beth Chisholm, Whatcom County Community Garden Coordinator with the Washington State University Extension Service. Newspaper 100% biodegradable and the critters in the soil love it. That said, they break down incredibly fast. If youve ever battled rose rosette disease or encountered odd leaf deformities, you should care about eriophyid mites, also sometimes known as gall mites. I dont have personal experience with that. But as a gardener who wants to choose organic inputs whenever possible, what kind of mulch options should you consider? Fall, winter, and early spring are all great times to lay down a little mulch blanket. Again, it will not rob the soil of nitrogen if simply laid on top of the soil. As the wood breaks down into the soil, it temporarily takes nitrogen that your plants need. It will raise the soil temperature and also help dry out the soil. Plant these trailing veggies among the taller crops like pepper plants, tomatoes, sunflowers, and corn. Several years ago, I wrote an article about 4 mulches for the vegetable garden each of which I had used myself to a limited degree. Episode 026: Using Leaves as Mulch & Compost (and Why Leaves Change Color & Shed), Episode 048: The Simple Science Behind Great Gardening, with Lee Reich, Episode 097: Spring Tips for Vegetable Garden Success, Episode 110: Why Mulch Matters in Every Garden: What You Need to Know, Episode 155: Managing Weeds Organically: Rodale Institutes Latest Research, Prevention and Control, Episode 194: Easy No-Dig Gardening, with Charlie Nardozzi, joegardener blog: Why to Leave the Leaves, joegardenerTV YouTube: How to Create a Raised Bed Garden, joegardenerTV YouTube: How to Use Leaves as Garden Mulch. You dont want the weight of a heavy mulch on top of sprouting seeds that are trying to break through the ground. If you live in a hot climate, use plastic mulches judiciously. Its only when pine bark is mixed in with soil that the carbon in the bark temporarily ties up the nitrogen in the soil. Straw mulch not only suppresses weed growth, but moderates fluctuations in soil temperature and moisture. When I lived in the suburbs I always felt that people were missing out on the many joys of grass clippings. These leaves help balance out the carbon-nitrogen ratio to a very limited degree and provide a bit more nutrients as they break down into your garden soil. This type of soil will usually dry out a bit as the season progresses, so don't cover it up with a thick, moisture-retentive mulch. Since then, Ive learned that not only are there more options, but also one of the ones I formerly recommended ended up poisoning my garden. Cardboard works exactly the same way (but itll last longer) and makes terrific foot paths between vegetable rows. Even the newest gardener realizes the magic of using mulch in the vegetable garden (or any other garden for that matter) as an excellent weed barrier, water retainer, and tempurature fluctuation reducer that can affect plant root systems. Unless you garden on a massive scale, one or two bales is usually all you'll need to mulch your entire vegetable patch. Why? If you live in a cooler climate, wait until after your first freeze to apply your fall mulch. An upside of arborist wood chip mulch is the price is right its free. Ive used hay I bought from a horse farmer shes not certified organic, but when I asked her about spraying she was horrified at the thought as she feeds her own horses with it. A few weeks later, my tomato leaves started to look curled in an unnatural way. Plus, its not my favorite look in the garden, which might be a consideration for you as it is for me. The inclusion of any products mentioned within this post is entirely independent and exclusive of any relationship. Black plastic mulch has yielded some good results and a few disappointments. As the wood chips break down at soil level, they will stabilize and become a beneficial ingredient to the soil structure itself. Straw is the dried stems left after wheat or oats (or other grains) have been harvested. 2022 Joe Gardener. Just plug it in and drop in the leaves. If you buy bagged bark mulch at your local garden center, this isnt a concern. Depending on where you live, this may mean waiting until June or even early July. I will be planting my seeds outside this spring. However, none of the prices of these resources have been increased to compensate us. However, my dad brought me bags of his leaves last fall. Like straw, its good for tender plants and emerging seedlings. That is most evident in his role as host and creator of Emmy Award-winning Growing a Greener World, a national green-living lifestyle series on PBS currently broadcasting in its tenth season. This source of mulching is relatively new to me. It can also mold. We live in Perthshire, around 12 miles from the east coast of Scotland at an elevation of 143m. This can lead to extra weeds, which is one of the reasons we add mulch in the first place! Compost not only builds soil texture, tilth, has nutrients that leach immediately into the soil it works the same way as every other mulch. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. Keep mulch at least an inch away from plant stems to avoid rot and fungus problems. It also warms up quickly in the spring, which is a big plus. And a layer of straw mulch between your veggie rows sets off your plants and makes your garden look neat and tidy. These companies are either Brand Partners of. Interesting article. Please fill out the information below. Its also not as nutrient-dense for your soil when it breaks down. Bark mulch hasnt been a problem for me, though. Applying mulch is a step thats so important but too often skipped. I can see how they may be unsightly for some places. This is what you typically see in your local garden store. That Is the Question | Letter from the Editor, Gambling on Tulips | Letter from the Editor, Potential Sources of Trouble for Your Japanese Maple. Also, because you never want to work wood chips or bark into the soil, it can be a pain to have to rake these back in your garden each season to plant. The bonus? I shredded them with a leaf shredder, but you can mow them if you have a bagger attachment to collect the shredded leaves. Its less likely to just sit on top of the soil and more likely to pilfer down and tie up nitrogen where you need it. Otherwise you will give many pests a nice warm place to hibernate and pop up again next year. Your email address will not be published. Finely ground pine bark is often sold in bags and called either mulch or soil conditioner. In this video, I explain the benefits and drawbacks of common organic mulch options. Ive seen this over the course of the years in my garden. Avoid these 4 Beginner Mistakes, Vegetable Gardening for Beginners by Jill McSheehy. (7PM CST/5PM PST), More convenient than raking up mowed leaves or using the string trimmer method is to use a product specifically created for the task: a. . This does not cost you any more but does help me offset some of the costs associated with this blog. This Free Shipping offer expires 8/31/22 and requires a $125 minimum purchase amount. Each year I cover my entire garden with more, and each year my garden produces more and more. This offer cannot be applied to previous purchases or combined with any other offer. They add to proper soil structure, tilth, and drainage important elements to healthy soil. Gather copious amounts of dry, fall leaves and use them in your vegetable bed immediately after collecting them. We have a mulching lawnmower so our class clippings are returned back into the yard. Instead, the compost that I use for mulch, I buy from my local landscaping company by the cubic yard, and I love using it as mulch. That weight will inhibit the germination of seeds that were directly sown in the garden. joegardener Online Gardening Academy: Popular courses on gardening fundamentals; managing pests, diseases & weeds; seed starting and more. Are you sure you want to delete your notes for this recipe? Of all the ones I mentioned in the article, Id assume finished compost and wood chip mulch (kept irrigated) would be the least flammable. Or do both: use them as a top mulch while the vegetable plants are still actively growing and then turn them under once everything has been harvested. 5 of 5. In fact, it covered the garden well and offered good weed prevention. Friday, April 1, 2022 at 12:00PM EDT (11:00AM CDT / 9:00AM PDT), How to Create a Thriving Organic Vegetable Garden, Saturday, April 2, 2022 at 10:00AM EDT (9:00AM CDT / 7:00AM PDT), Sunday, April 3, 2021 at 8:00PM EDT (7:00PM CDT / 5:00PM PDT), Wednesday, February 23rd at 3:00 PM EST (2:00 PM CST/ 12:00 PM PST), Thursday, February 24th at 3:00 PM EST (2:00 PM CST/12:00 PST), Friday, February 25th at 10:00 AM EST(9:00 AM CST/7:00AM PST), Saturday, May 15. Get in on the best deals, new products and gardening tips. But Im only guessing. This feature has been temporarily disabled during the beta site preview. It was a matter of using what was available. Get complete site access to expert advice, regional content, and more, plus the print magazine. Thanks interesting list. More convenient than raking up mowed leaves or using the string trimmer method is to use a product specifically created for the task: a bladeless electric leaf mulcher. Success! As a founding employee of Gardener's Supply, I wore many different hats over the years. The selection of all items featured in this post and podcast were based solely on merit and in no way influenced by any affiliate or financial incentive, or contractual relationship. This year I am waiting longer and using seaweed, maybe over untreated paper. I use pine needles often as I have free access to over 20 pine trees on my property that provide more needles than I ever will need. Wood chips and shredded bark are both popular mulches, however specific gardens should be considered because theyre both sturdy materials that break down slowly. It's great for strawberries as well. For tree service companies, disposing of all those wood chips can be costly, so many will just give them away for free. Hay also offers more nutrients to the soil than straw, so as it breaks down it benefits the garden. Your garden, and your harvest, will thank you! While the string trimmer method gets the job done, it can be rather cumbersome to manipulate the trimmer head and definitely leads to arm fatigue if shredding more than just a few bags. Any natural mulch is better than no mulch at all, but that being said, there are pros and cons to each option. What about grass clippings from your lawn? However, we receive no additional compensation from the sales or promotion of their product through this guide.