By Tamara Galbraith
Mulch. The word doesn't exactly roll off the tongue like a Shakespeare sonnet, does it? But for everything the word lacks, the actual stuff, when placed on your garden beds around flowers, vegetables, trees and shrubs, compensates by helping your plants live longer in summer's heat by keeping roots cool and soil at an even level of moisture.
Wood mulches look better but, in general, provide less nutrition to your plants. We prefer using a nutritious mulch, unless you are mulching a large unplanted area and need the look of a good wood mulch.
So, how much mulch to use? Generally, you should plan to cover all exposed soil areas with 2-3" of mulch. DO NOT place mulch right up against the stems of plants and trunks of trees. Back off about 2" or so, as this allows water and air to reach the base of the plant, and also ensures against rotting from constant contact with the mulch. Also, don't think that more is better in the case of mulch. With trees, especially, think "wider" not "higher." Avoid piling mulch up in a volcano formation around the trunks of trees and thinking it will help - it won't.
There are several online calculators that help you figure out how much mulch you'll need to buy, depending on your garden size. Generally, one cubic yard of mulch covers about 100 square feet at 3" deep.
Be sure to fluff and add to your mulch every once in awhile, as it will compact and break down over time.
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Learn more about the benefits of Mulching from Jim Downer’s Presentation at our most recent Horticulture Seminar