Mulching is considered an important measure in the garden to promote plant growth. It can be used on lawns and beds, with careful selection of the material. If done correctly, you will see visible results after a short time.

Mulch protects against dehydration and weeds

Table of Contents

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  1. the essentials in brief
  2. What is mulching?
  3. Which plants to mulch?
  4. materials for mulching
  5. Mulch or mow?
  6. Properly mulch
  7. Alternative mulch materials
  8. frequently asked Questions

    9. the essentials in brief

    • A layer of mulch protects the soil and ensures natural processes that enhance plant growth.
    • Lawn mowers can be upgraded with special mulching kits. Cylinder mowers or mulching mowers are a worthwhile purchase for large gardens.
    • Moisture-loving plants in semi-shady and shady locations like a layer of mulch. Heat-loving species should not be mulched. Organic waste products are suitable as mulch material.
    • Mulching has many advantages over mowing, and doing it right is key to success.

    What is mulching?

    The term mulching derives from the Middle High German word mul, which means the crumbling earth. Also known as flailing, mulching means covering the bare soil with organic material that has not yet rotted. In agriculture, the work steps mowing and mulching are completed in one pass. The clippings are shredded directly and remain on the surface. Mulching with grass clippings is a common practice in private gardens to promote plant growth.

    Benefits:

    • constancy: Floor stays cool longer in hot weather and retains daytime heat better in the evening
    • yield: longer growing season and better harvest
    • protection: Soil is protected from drying out during hot periods and silting up during heavy rain
    • nutrient: Mulch layer is decomposed and acts as an organic fertilizer
    • weed inhibition: Seeds of unwanted weeds do not get enough light to grow uncontrollably

    Nature as a role model

    A layer of mulch simulates a natural forest floor

    Bare floors do not occur in nature. As soon as an area falls fallow, the first pioneer plants settle. In the forest, the soil is protected by moss, leaves and herbs. This litter layer provides a habitat for numerous insects and fungi that keep the ecosystem functioning. If you mulch beds, tree discs or the lawn, you ensure effective protection of the soil structure and its living beings.

    Important when mulching:

    • Distribute mulch material only on loose soil
    • allow green and juicy clippings to dry a little to prevent snails
    • Apply thinly, no more than two centimeters thick

    Devices for mulching

    Lawnmower models that reduce the amount of work have been available for several years. They cut off the grass and shred it in the same step. The clippings are no longer collected in a collection basket, but lie directly on the lawn. The different construction methods each have their advantages and disadvantages. Decisive for the choice are the size and location of the garden.

    benefits disadvantage
    Cordless lawnmower with mulching function Flexible use, low-noise, low maintenance usually not suitable for large areas
    Petrol lawn mower with mulching function Better performance than battery powered devices noisy operation
    reel mower clean cut, mostly hand operated fails in tall grass

    When is a mulching mower worthwhile?

    Since many models are expensive, they are not suitable for small gardens. From an area of 200 square meters, the advantages of the lawn mower with mulching function come into play. They make it easier to maintain these areas. In smaller gardens it is worth retrofitting the existing lawn mower with a mulching mowing set.

    Is mulching possible with a regular lawn mower?

    Most implements are not suitable for mulching. When you mulch with a conventional lawn mower, very coarse material is left on the surface. It takes longer for soil organisms to decompose the lawn clippings. The clippings are often unevenly distributed over the area, which is why moss came up in places. In addition, the exchange of gases between air and soil is impaired.

    Mulching: when is the best time?

    Lawn can be mulched several times a year

    When and how often you carry out this care measure depends on the area in question. For best results, you should mulch regularly from spring to autumn. Lawns can be mowed and mulched for the first time as soon as the grass has grown about ten centimeters high. Later you can let the grass grow to a cutting height of between six and eight centimetres.

    Make sure the grass is as dry as possible. You should not mow the lawn after rainy days to prevent the clippings from clumping together. Beds should not be mulched immediately after sowing the seeds, as this will shade the seeds and prevent them from germinating. Wait until the seedlings have grown a few centimeters high before starting to mulch.

    Which plants can I mulch?

    Basically, you can cover everything that grows in the garden with a layer of mulch. When mulching the meadow, you have to pay attention to other aspects than when covering beds. The pasture for horses can also be mulched. However, not every plant will thank you with lush growth when the soil is covered with organic material. Mulching tomatoes means an increased crop yield. Special conditions apply when mulching roses.

    Most plants like a layer of mulch - with the exception of heat-loving plants.

    Perennial beds and grasses in the ornamental garden

    Mulch (€239.00) protects the soil and also looks pretty

    While the meadow can be mulched with cuttings, you have to use other material for ornamental plants. Every plant has different demands on the soil and this also tolerates the different mulch materials differently. In general, heavy soils should be covered with light material. Choose the mulch so that its grain size is slightly smaller than the grain size of the substrate. This prevents the soil from compacting and gives stability to the vegetation.

    Ornamental plants and their preferences:

    • rhododendron: Fallen leaves, bark mulch or shredded branches and twigs keep the pH constant in the low range
    • bamboo: Pine bark, shavings, leaves or straw maintain soil moisture
    • perennials: Bark mulch is considered an all-rounder

    Beds in the kitchen garden

    Dried comfrey leaves and stinging nettles without inflorescences are ideal when you want to mulch tomatoes. Cucumbers and beans can also be mulched with lush growing weeds. Because of the high decomposition rate, you will need to mulch the vegetable patch more frequently. Vetch peas, buckwheat and vetches provide perfect mulch material for potatoes because they are rich in nutrients and mainly add nitrogen to the soil.

    digression

    Mulching corn stubble

    Mulching is particularly important on arable land. If the leftover maize crop residue is crushed, the material can be worked better into the substrate during subsequent tillage. This measure ensures that the hibernation quarters of the dreaded European corn borer are destroyed. Its caterpillars retreat into the hollow stems to survive the cold season until spring. However, this method is viewed with ambivalence, since other insects also find an important retreat in the corn stubble.

    Plants in dry and warm locations

    Many ornamental plants or herbs from Mediterranean regions that grow in sunny locations prefer dry and warm conditions. Such growths should not be mulched with straw, bark or green matter. A layer of gravel as ground cover is suitable for lavender. The stones store heat and are permeable to water and air.

    fruit and berry bushes

    Strawberries especially benefit from straw

    Straw is not only suitable for covering paths in the garden, but also for mulching raspberries, currants or blackberries. The loose material ensures good soil ventilation and acts as optimal protection. When you mulch strawberries, you not only benefit from the improved soil properties. The ripening fruits remain on the straw, protected from wet soil and are less susceptible to gray mold and snail damage.

    shrubs and trees

    Fruit trees on the meadow orchard are grateful for a layer of mulch. Mulching the tree disc not only serves to prevent the soil from drying out as much during the hot summer months. The mulch layer acts as a visual boundary and thus protects the tree from mechanical damage that often occurs during harvesting work. You can use lawn clippings, bark mulch or straw as material. Bark mulch is less suitable for mulching roses, as the shrubs depend on optimal soil aeration. Provide the ornamental plants with compost in the fall.

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    materials for mulching

    Organic materials develop different effects. Their rate of decomposition depends on factors such as structure or moisture content. Straw mulching is a popular variant used on berry bushes. In principle, you can reuse any organic waste from your garden. However, you should pay attention to the needs of the respective plant.

    application Hints
    grass clippings in almost all plants can be mixed with wood chips for better aeration
    leaves Forest plants, vegetable patch, berry bushes Fall foliage is nutrient poor
    sheep wool heavy feeder gives off nitrogen over a long period of time
    nettles Beds, ornamental plants, fruit bushes rots quickly
    bark mulch Perennials in partial shade and shade, grasses and ferns use freshly sieved, smells of methanol and sulfur indicate putrefaction processes
    straw vegetable and orchard fixes nitrogen in the soil, which is why additional fertilization is necessary

    Mulch or mow?

    Whether you mow or mulch your lawn depends on one hand on personal preferences and on the other hand on your garden and the existing equipment. From an ecological point of view, mulching is better because you do not remove any nutrients from the lawn and ensure a natural cycle. However, this method is more time-consuming as it needs to be performed more frequently. In the case of particularly heavy or very sandy soils and in regions with high rainfall, mowing with subsequent composting of the cuttings makes more sense.

    Disadvantages of mulching:

    • too thick a layer attracts snails and voles
    • prevents soil warming in spring and autumn
    • Harvest mites feel particularly comfortable in the mulch
    • some mulches remove nitrogen from the soil

    How to mulch properly

    Mulch protects against weed growth

    While mulching a lawn is easy, beds and shrubs require a little more attention. Done properly, mulching helps keep moss and weeds out.

    ground preparations

    Carefully rake the substrate in the bed or under shrubs with a rake. This loosens unwanted weeds and the top layer of soil gets fresh air. Weeds do not need to be disposed of on the compost if they have not yet formed fruit. Their roots dry out quickly on the surface of the soil, so the herbs also serve as a good mulch layer.

    tips

    You can protect young plants during this work by putting small pots over them.

    Spread mulch

    Sprinkle the organic material on the ground and spread it over large beds with a broom and under shrubs by hand. You should keep a certain distance to the stems of the plants so that the damp layer of mulch does not cause rotting processes at the base of the plants. A few centimeters are enough to ensure that the plant is adequately ventilated. The thickness of the layer should be about five centimeters. More frequent and more economical use of the material is better than one-time mulching in large quantities.

    Check occasionally

    The mulched area can then be left to itself. Since there are always some unwanted plants growing through the mulch layer, you should pluck them out regularly. They can then remain on the surface so that the soil organisms can release their nutrients. The next layer of mulch is due when the old material has almost completely decomposed.

    Alternative mulch materials

    The trade offers alternatives to the common mulch substrates that accumulate in the garden. Such materials prove to be more effective in certain situations compared to organic waste. These variants are less suitable for long-term use, not only for cost reasons.

    coconut mats

    They act as an air-permeable bed cover and protect the soil from frost, heat and erosion. Shallow-rooted ornamental and useful shrubs such as honeysuckle and honeysuckle or elder and blueberries benefit from coconut mats. (21.90€) These are three to five centimeters thick and consist of non-usable coconut fibers. They are held together by organic natural rubber and can be easily cut with scissors. A coconut mat lasts two to three years.

    tips

    Coconut mats are also suitable as an insulating layer for planters in winter. Cover the substrate with the material and place the pot on a piece of coir mat.

    Foil, fleece or paper

    Plastic foil protects against weeds and warms the soil, but they are not very environmentally friendly and visually not an asset

    Fabrics made of dark synthetic fibers ensure that the ground warms up quickly when the sun shines on it. The soil underneath stays moist for a long time. Such covers are particularly suitable for weedy areas whose vegetation dies off automatically after a long period of time. Since the material does not decompose and soil ventilation is limited, plastic mats are not suitable for continuous use.

    As an alternative, films made of corn starch or paper, which are biodegradable, are recommended. Their decomposition rate is high, so they need to be renewed regularly. Soil heating is greater than under a mulch layer of straw, compost or grass clippings. Therefore, heat-loving plants such as pumpkin or cucumber feel particularly comfortable with this type of ground cover.

    frequently asked Questions

    How does mulching work with a mulching mower?

    As soon as the lawn has grown ten centimeters high, you can cut it down with the mulching mower. When the lawn is dry, the speed is set high. Drive down the lawn in even tracks so that all blades of grass are caught. The tracks can overlap at the edge of the area. If the lawn is more than ten centimeters tall, you should shorten it by a maximum of one third. The next mowing can be carried out the next day in order to achieve the optimum cutting height of three to five centimetres.

    When should I mulch the lawn?

    Mulching mowers should only be used when the grass and soil are well dry. After long periods of rain, waiting for the best time can become a race against grass growth. If you can no longer delay the mowing date, set the cutting height relatively high and work slowly. This keeps the risk of clumping small. Clean the blades thoroughly after work so that the plant residue does not dry up in the mower.

    Why should I mulch my lawn?

    If the clippings remain on the surface and are not removed, a natural nutrient cycle is created. Soil organisms ensure the decomposition of plant material so that the nutrients are returned to the soil. In addition, the thin layer protects against excessive sun exposure and prevents overheating. This allows the lawn to develop better.

    How often do you have to mulch?

    In the spring, you should drive the mulching mower over the lawn once a week. During this rainy season, grass growth is very pronounced, which is additionally promoted by the improved nutrient supply. The shorter the intervals between the mowing dates, the more splendidly the lawn develops. Adapt the frequency to the growth of the grasses. This decreases during the dry summer period, allowing you to extend the intervals.

    How does mulching change the appearance of the lawn?

    A species shift can occur on an area that has not been mulched if the existing grasses do not receive sufficient amounts of nutrients. Lawn mixtures consist mainly of meadow grass. A lack of nutrients pushes this species back from other grasses, which can do better in less nutrient-poor conditions. Red fescue and bent grass dominate the picture. This reduces the resilience of the lawn and there is an increased risk of matting.

    How can I make mulch myself?

    Because mulch is organic debris, you can make your own ground-covering mix. Garden waste of any kind is perfect. Chop up clippings from hedges and trees and mix them with small amounts of lawn clippings or straw. The material is well suited for berry bushes. In the fall you can collect fallen leaves and use them as mulch material. If you have problems with snails, you should use mulch made from chopped reeds. Chopped herbs with an intense fragrance have a deterrent effect on various plant pests.

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