how often do I need to change mulch?

14 years ago

Hi,

Thanks for your help and taking your time to answer my questions. I really appreciate that because I am a new gardener and have a lot of them;-))

One more question:

Last june I put malch under my roses and under my (only)apple tree. This year I want to feed roses(put some Tagro compost) and in order to do that I probably have to remove all the mulch. I really do not want to change mulch(it still looks o'key) as it is a lot of work and I am mostly concentrating on my veg.garden. Or do I need to change mulch every year?

thanks again for your help!

Featured Answer

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

14 years ago

You never need to replace mulch.....just add to it as necessary. And if you use something like compost (or Tagro or other nutrient-rich organic matter) as the mulch itself, you can substantially reduce the need to ever fertilize.

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Comments (7)

Embothrium
14 years ago
Put the new stuff on top of the old.
jean001
14 years ago
Here's how it goes.
Pull the old stuff back a bit, scratch the fertilizer lightly into the soil around the roses, replace the old mulch, then top it off with new/fresh stuff.
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Sorry, but I am going to disagree on the mulch. Mulching your garden is one of the best things you can do for it for any number of reasons. Organic mulches contribute to soil texture and fertility as they decompose, they help to retard weed development, they retain soil moisture by reducing evaporation and they provide insulating properties by helping to protect against wide temperature swings (stays warmer in winter and cooler in summer). Mulch can retard the spread of diseases by reducing the splashing of fungal spores onto foliage, they prevent crusting of the soil during dry periods, allowing for better water penetration and guard against compaction. Plus there are aesthetic considerations as well - a well-mulched garden looks tidy and well-tended and lowers routine maintenance. It doesn't matter where you live, the benefits of mulching your garden far outweigh any drawbacks or not mulching at all. And you can never water effectively based on a predetermined timetable. Water as needed.
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Embothrium
14 years ago
Nutrient sources like granular fertilizers leach right through mulch, there is no need pull mulch back, scratch them in etc.

And the bushes are better off if you don't dig among their roots.

If this material is instead an organic top dressing, the soil system occupying the undisturbed mulch should likewise be able to integrate it and make it available to the plants.

Nobody pulls back mulch, scratches in fertilizer and the like in nature. Mulch is the garden version of the litter layer in the woods - where plant and animal debris falls to the ground, gets taken into the soil system without human involvement.
botann
14 years ago
I was surprised by a garbage man on how often mulch is cleaned up and replaced with new. He said that he handled more bark than I did as a landscaper.
Maybe the public needs to be educated on this.
I have a friend whose wife doesn't like the look of wood chips, but can't afford a full load of ground bark. I suggested he put down wood chips first and then cover them with a cosmetic coating of bark. He did, and now his wife is happy and he has a decent thickness of mulch to do the job.
mdvaden_of_oregon
14 years ago
That's what I did when we were in southern Oregon for 3 years.

Had several companies and the utility company line clearing crew deliver many loads of chips. After they were spread and allowed to flatten for a few weeks, I covered with bark mulch.

Got a few mushrooms, but not many. I find the mushrooms interesting actually.

My preference is to avoid getting hardwood when the seeds are on the trees. Maple for example, can have a lot of winged samaras.

M. D. Vaden of Oregon
Embothrium
14 years ago
One of the reasons to use wood chips is to avoid the drawbacks of bark.

how often do I need to change mulch?

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

Comments (7)

Embothrium

jean001

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