Mulch in the Landscape

Chemung County Tel: 607 734-4453 Human Resources Center Fax: 607 734-7740 425 Pennsylvania Avenue E-mail: [email protected] Elmira, NY 14904-1766 www.cce.cornell.edu/chemung Cooperative Extension Types and Uses of Mulch in the Landscape Introduction. Mulched soils are cultivated less frequently than bare soils. It is now known that soil structure is improved by not cultivating, but this relationship was not As popular as they are in contemporary landscapes, always understood. mulches are not a new concept. For as long as trees have grown in forests, leaves and needles have fallen At one time, it was a common practice to cultivate to the ground, matted together, and formed a natural the surface of soil to form a dry "dust mulch." The protective layer over the soil. theory was that the dust layer would obstruct the upward capillary movement of subsoil water and The English word mulch is probably derived from thus reduce soil water losses. Research over the past the German word molsch, meaning soft, beginning to forty years has shown that dust mulches conserve decay. It no doubt referred to early gardeners' use of moisture in soils by inhibiting weed growth: but straw, leaves, and loose earth spread on the ground to because they are susceptible to wind erosion, dust protect the roots of newly planted trees and shrubs. mulches actually have a negative effect on soil structure. Many different natural and synthetic mulches are available today, but all perform at least three basic functions: they reduce soil water losses, suppress Characteristics of a good mulch. weeds, and protect against temperature extremes. In one study comparing various mulch materials with The ideal mulch is economical, readily available, and bare soil, soil moisture percentages in mulched plots easily applied and removed; stays in place well; and were approximately twice as high, summer soil supplies organic matter to the soil, yet is free of temperatures were reduced by 8 to 13 degrees, and noxious weeds, insects, and diseases. It also the average amount of time required to remove performs the three functions described earlier — weeds was reduced by two-thirds. suppresses weeds, conserves soil water, and moderates soil temperatures. The use of mulches in landscape plantings provides other benefits as well. When water droplets land on Does such a super mulch exist? Black plastic, which bare soil, the impact causes soil particles to fly in all warms the soil in spring, also heats the soil in directions, resulting in soil crusting and slow water summer, possibly to levels that are lethal to plants. infiltration. Most mulches break the impact of the Straw, shredded leaves, pine needles, and wood chips droplets, reducing soil erosion and crusting and are effective insulating blankets in winter, but they increasing the penetration of water into the soil. slow soil warming if left on in the spring. Although black plastic effectively prevents the evaporation of In addition, mulches improve soil structure in several water from the soil, it also blocks the entrance of ways. As organic mulches decompose, they provide water into the soil. Mineral or synthetic mulches do organic matter that prompts soil particles to not contribute beneficial matter to the soil, but some aggregate. Large aggregates increase aeration and organic mulches may contribute weed seeds and improve moisture conditions in the soil. These diseases to a site. conditions, in turn, encourage additional root development and biological activity, further enhancing soil structure. Building Strong and Vibrant New York Communities Cornell Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities. NYS College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, NYS College of Human Ecology, and NYS College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University, Cooperative Extension associations, county governing bodies, and U.S. Department of Agriculture, cooperating. Types and Uses of Mulch in the Landscape Selecting the right mulch. Some bark mulches may be toxic to young plants, particularly if the bark is fresh or if it has been There is not one perfect mulch. But understanding improperly stockpiled. Toxins can be leached from the attributes of different materials can help you bark by heavy watering or evaporated by thorough choose the best mulch for a particular location. aeration. Bark mulches are most likely to cause damage to plants if the mulch particles are small, if The first choice to make is whether a situation calls the mulch is particularly deep, or if a high proportion for a summer or a winter mulch. Winter mulches are of plant roots are in the surface layer of the soil. If used primarily as insulation for woody plants, laid you are concerned about the toxicity of fresh chips, down in late fall to keep the soil evenly cool spread them thinly under young plants. Bagged bark throughout the winter. Straw, shredded leaves, and mulch products have usually been allowed to pine needles are all effective winter mulches. weather for long periods of time to remove any Summer or growing mulches are normally applied toxins and are least likely to harm plants. after the soil begins to warm in the spring. The Among the most desirable characteristics of bark primary roles of summer mulches are to warm the mulches are their excellent resistance to compaction soil, reduce weed growth, and retain soil moisture. and movement by wind, their attractiveness, and their availability. Another consideration is choosing the right mulch for the location. Black plastic and straw are ♦Wood Chips. Wood chips are derived from many commonly used in vegetable gardens or small fruit different hardwood and softwood species. They are plantings. Wood chips, bark chunks, and pine often available from municipalities or utility needles are appropriate mulches for shrub beds or companies involved in pruning or clearing trees. around trees. Fine mulches, such as bark granules, wood shavings, cocoa shells, and buckwheat hulls, In general, wood chip mulches have a high carbon: are attractive when used in annual or perennial beds. nitrogen ratio. This means that in the process of Fine gravel or crushed stone mulches look most decomposing they may temporarily reduce the natural when used in rock gardens. supply of soil nitrogen fertilizer to mulched plants. Other considerations in selecting mulch are cost and Compared with bark mulches, wood chips tend to availability. Although cocoa hulls and buckwheat lose more of their decorative appearance over time, hulls make very attractive mulches, they may only be weathering to a gray or silvery gray color. Because sold in regions where these commodities are of this, people often renew wood chip mulches each processed. Even when available, these mulches are year by adding an additional 3 to 4 inches of chips. normally more expensive than wood chips or bark This over mulching not only wastes mulch but also products. On the other hand, some municipalities can suffocate the roots of shallow-rooted species and stockpile wood chips from tree-trimming work and cause cankers to develop around the bases of offer the chips free to anyone willing to haul them susceptible trees and shrubs. A better practice is to away. renew mulches every 2 to 3 years and churn up the existing mulch before adding a light renewal layer. Characteristics of particular mulches. Wood mulch has a possible drawback. Rotting wood is host to a group of fungi commonly called shotgun ♦Bark mulches. Commercial bark mulches are or artillery fungi in the genus Sphaerobolus. They generally the by-products of milled fir, Douglas fir, disperse their dark brown spores by propelling them pine, redwood, and spruce logs. Three grade toward light, up to 6 meters. They then adhere to standards have been adopted for landscape use based that surface. on particle size: bark chunks (decorative bark), bark granules (soil conditioner), and shredded bark. Of The dark disks are much like fly specks. They may the three, bark chunks are the most persistent. land on white houses or cars, for example. Structur- ally they are not damaging, but they are virtually 2 Types and Uses of Mulch in the Landscape impossible to remove. Scraping or washing aids the On the other hand, it is cheap and effectively process. Other harsh cleaners may damage the suppresses weeds and reduces soil water losses. As a surface. There are no fungicide treatments. winter mulch, it protects tender roots from cold temperature injury. Avoid using wood mulch is the alternate strategy. When the wood mulch is in place, cover it with a ♦Pine needles. Pine needles have a pleasing layer of other mulch. For additional information appearance and acidify the soil around acid-loving about artillery fungus request that fact sheet. plants. They normally are not available commercially but can be raked up from around pine ♦Sawdust. Sawdust is often recommended as a plantings. mulch for blueberries, rhododendrons, and other acid-loving evergreens. Sawdust mulch has an Pine needles decompose slowly, are resistant to acidifying effect on the soil as it decomposes, and compaction, and are easy to work with. They like wood chips, it can rob the soil of nitrogen. provide excellent protection around newly set or tender ornamental plants. If left on year-round, pine In addition, sawdust layers are characterized by needles should be renewed annually. severe compaction and decomposition over a single growing season. Thus, it is necessary to fluff up and ♦Crushed stone, gravel, volcanic rock. Mineral renew sawdust mulch each spring. mulches offer some advantages over the organic materials described thus far. They are not blown ♦Hulls of cocoa, buckwheat, cottonseed. In about by wind, they do not harbor weed seeds or different regions of the country, hulls that are the diseases, and they do not rob the soil of nitrogen.

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