How to Mulch a Flower Bed

Mulch is a useful addition to any garden or yard. Organic and inorganic mulch help to moderate soil temperature and weather damage, prevent weed growth and retain soil moisture. Additionally, mulch enhances a garden or flower bed by contributing a unique aesthetic flare. Mulching your garden is cheap and easy to do, but it helps to understand the different types of mulch available, as well as how much mulch to use and when to apply it.

What Type of Mulch to Use

For flower beds, typically organic mulches are better than inorganic ones. Organic mulches are composed of wood products such as bark and branches, other plant material, beans or shredded newspaper. Organic mulches enrich the soil as they decompose and provide a welcoming habitat for earthworms and beneficial microorganisms.

Organic mulches come in a variety of consistencies. Mulches that are shredded 2 or 3 times are finer than single-shredding mulches, and may be easier to spread and work with in a garden. Additionally, mulches may be aged up to several months in order to enhance the decomposition process. This provides additional nourishment to the soil.

While an organic mulch may be the best option for a flower garden, inorganic mulches, like those made from shredded rubber, have benefits as well. Specifically, inorganic mulches will not decompose and therefore enjoy a longer lifespan without replacement.

TIP: Our expert gardening adviser, Rachel Klein suggests,"There are some downsides to organic mulch. First, it can attract annoying pests like moles, voles, and rabbits. These critters enjoy hibernating in comfy mulch during the winter, and especially enjoy snacking on your expensive bulbs. Also, in very wet climates, organic mulch can hold too much moisture. This can attract snails and slugs, and potentially cause the stems of your plants to rot. If you have a problem with rodents, or live in a very moist climate, you may want to consider using an inorganic mulch."

How Much Mulch to Use in Your Flower Bed

In a flower bed or another area of your garden, mulch should typically be between 2 and 4 inches thick. A layer of mulch that is too thin may not adequately protect your soil from weather damage and weeds, while a layer that is too thick may retain too much moisture. Soils that tend to retain water will require less mulch than sandy soils. Additionally, mulch tends to settle and compact as it decomposes over time, so consider applying an additional inch or so of mulch to your soil.

TIP: Rachel suggests, "Renew organic mulches every year or two as they break down. You can dig the old mulch into the garden soil to finish decomposing, or simply spread a new layer of mulch directly on top of the old."

When to Lay Mulch in Your Garden

In a flowerbed, apply mulch in the late part of spring, just before the weather turns warm. Before applying mulch, carefully remove all weeds and roots from the garden. This will help ensure that weeds cannot sprout in the mulched portion of your garden. Don't choke the flowers by covering them with mulch. Rather, leave a few inches of space around each flower or bush.

TIP: Rachel adds, "Laying down a layer of newspaper (5-7 sheets) or cardboard before mulching will help to cut down on weeds. Remember to remove all labels first! Newspaper ink is soy-based so you run no risk of adding toxic chemicals to your soil. As it decomposes, the newspaper or cardboard adds organic matter to your soil. Landscape fabric does a good job of weed prevention in 'permanent plant' gardens with trees or shrubs. However, only cover landscape fabric with inorganic mulch! Organic mulch will decompose over the fabric and might invite weeds to grow on top."

Mulch is available for sale at nurseries and home improvement stores. Although storebought mulch is high quality and tends to be relatively cheap, many gardeners and homeowners opt to create their own mulch. Making mulch at home requires very little time and effort, although you will need a garden shredder or chipper. Homemade mulch is also an excellent way to clean up yard debris in an environmentally-friendly manner. Whether you choose homemade or storebought mulch, your garden will be healthier and more visually appealing if you plan carefully.