No $ Mulching
A Guide to Mulching with Everyday Items
Written By: Micah Wilkins
The purpose of mulch is to cover and protect your garden’s soil. It also keeps your soil moisturized by slowing the water evaporation from watering and rainfall. Mulch can also kill weeds in your soil by blocking them from receiving any sun.
In the case of organic mulches, they can also add nutrients to your soil, as it continues to decompose. Processed, dyed and commercial mulches, however, can be very harmful to your soil.
According to Grit Magazine, the brown portion of compost – the twigs, branches, dried leaves, etc. – supply the bulk carbon to the compost pile. The fresh “greens,” – clippings, weeds, coffee grounds, or veggie scraps – on the other hand, supply a lot of the nitrogen and some moisture to your compost.
1. Grass clippings.
While you should wait a little to spread grass clippings over your soil, it is nonetheless a beneficial method to mulching. Grass clippings decompose quickly and add a nice appearance to your garden!
2. Tree trimmings.
A good source for free mulch for large areas are tree trimming and removal companies. They usually pay to dispose of tree trimmings and will gladly give the whole batch to you if you are in need of that much.
Coarse chipped wood makes fine mulch. However, newly chopped tree material can contain enough green leafy matter to get very hot, which may cook your plants. To avoid this, do not allow green mulch to touch plants as you cover the area. You can also lower the temperature by reducing the chipped woodpile to a layer of 2 or 3 inches.
3. Peat Moss.
With its natural appearance, it blends right in to your garden. It also organically improves your soil.
4. Brown Cardboard.
This recyclable material acts as a permeable mulch. It allows water through to the soil, but it prevents weeds from sprouting. Cardboard also prevents excessive evaporation, and can slow down soil erosion.
5. Pine Needles.
These seeds work great when they drop from their trees, but be sure to put them in their correct places! The should be in areas where your plants will appreciate their acidity! Onions, garlic, mint and tomatoes are just a few of the plants in your vegetable and herb garden which would also enjoy the acid boost.
6. Peanut Shells.
These organic shells work great over your soil, but only the non-roasted and unsalted kinds!
7. Straw and Hay.
These substances are great heat insulators. They are extremely effective in keeping your soil warm during the fall and winter seasons.
8. Garden Compost.
Your compost can act as mulch, or be worked in with other materials to create an even thicker, heavier mulch. However, compost usually just acts like an additional layer of soil.
9. Shredded Paper and Newspapers.
Paper is an organic substance and will quickly rot down in your garden. However, paper should be combined with other materials like compost, straw or grass clippings to hold it in place.
10. Weeds and Green-tops.
Hoed down and raked up, leafy weeds can easily be left as effective mulch.
Written By: Micah Wilkins
The purpose of mulch is to cover and protect your garden’s soil. It also keeps your soil moisturized by slowing the water evaporation from watering and rainfall. Mulch can also kill weeds in your soil by blocking them from receiving any sun.
In the case of organic mulches, they can also add nutrients to your soil, as it continues to decompose. Processed, dyed and commercial mulches, however, can be very harmful to your soil.
According to Grit Magazine, the brown portion of compost – the twigs, branches, dried leaves, etc. – supply the bulk carbon to the compost pile. The fresh “greens,” – clippings, weeds, coffee grounds, or veggie scraps – on the other hand, supply a lot of the nitrogen and some moisture to your compost.
1. Grass clippings.
While you should wait a little to spread grass clippings over your soil, it is nonetheless a beneficial method to mulching. Grass clippings decompose quickly and add a nice appearance to your garden!
2. Tree trimmings.
A good source for free mulch for large areas are tree trimming and removal companies. They usually pay to dispose of tree trimmings and will gladly give the whole batch to you if you are in need of that much.
Coarse chipped wood makes fine mulch. However, newly chopped tree material can contain enough green leafy matter to get very hot, which may cook your plants. To avoid this, do not allow green mulch to touch plants as you cover the area. You can also lower the temperature by reducing the chipped woodpile to a layer of 2 or 3 inches.
3. Peat Moss.
With its natural appearance, it blends right in to your garden. It also organically improves your soil.
4. Brown Cardboard.
This recyclable material acts as a permeable mulch. It allows water through to the soil, but it prevents weeds from sprouting. Cardboard also prevents excessive evaporation, and can slow down soil erosion.
5. Pine Needles.
These seeds work great when they drop from their trees, but be sure to put them in their correct places! The should be in areas where your plants will appreciate their acidity! Onions, garlic, mint and tomatoes are just a few of the plants in your vegetable and herb garden which would also enjoy the acid boost.
6. Peanut Shells.
These organic shells work great over your soil, but only the non-roasted and unsalted kinds!
7. Straw and Hay.
These substances are great heat insulators. They are extremely effective in keeping your soil warm during the fall and winter seasons.
8. Garden Compost.
Your compost can act as mulch, or be worked in with other materials to create an even thicker, heavier mulch. However, compost usually just acts like an additional layer of soil.
9. Shredded Paper and Newspapers.
Paper is an organic substance and will quickly rot down in your garden. However, paper should be combined with other materials like compost, straw or grass clippings to hold it in place.
10. Weeds and Green-tops.
Hoed down and raked up, leafy weeds can easily be left as effective mulch.
Posted by Urban Growth KC at 8/1/2010 6:48 PM 
Categories: informative
Tags: mulching cheap mulch ideas
Categories: informative
Tags: mulching cheap mulch ideas
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