After working in hundreds of gardens throughout New England, over the past 10 years, I have had the expansive opportunity to witness how different products, when applied to the New England Garden, affect the vitality of the designed ecosystem. As a trained biologist with a background specializing in plant physiology, genetics and soil ecology science, I have been blessed with hundreds of samples for seasonal observational experiments. For many years, I was under the methodical directions of different mindsets of “ best practices”, while witnessing the effects of these practices, as well as their cost to the clients.
Mulch has always been an essential additive to the domesticated garden. The variety of options and the most commonly used, has left a schism of practice versus purpose in the commercial landscaping field. Today, we will think about the role of mulch in a garden and we will explain how the different varieties available, as well as the most commonly used, each affect the garden ecosystem and the pocket of the homeowner differently.
What is the role of mulch in a garden?
Mulch is applied to a garden to prevent weeds from growing, assist in retaining soil moisture levels, and provide an ecosystem for beneficial microbes. Ideally, the mulch is a biodegradable source of nutrients that when fully decomposed, with help from thriving microbial populations, feeds the plant the essential building blocks for growing and sustaining healthy plant cellular systems.
Mulch is our human-made imitation of the process that occurs in a forest. In a forest dominated by conifers, i.e. Pines, Spruces, Hemlocks, etc. The needles litter the forest floor, their acidic nature prevents an undergrowth while the layers of years of needles retain water enough to feed the giant trees, while breaking down into the essential elements needed to create the next season’s needles. In a deciduous forest, i.e. Maples, Oaks, Birches, etc, the leaves fall in the Autumn and cover the ground providing rich moist layers of half decomposed leaves of precious years, creating an ideal habitat for fostering new seedlings of the same trees, while holding a moisture and acidity level that prevents weed-like plants from growing in competition with the native trees and shrubs.