Mulching a Vegetable Garden
Mulch is one of the easiest ways to make a vegetable garden easier to manage.
It saves water, suppresses weeds, and protects soil.
Benefits of Mulch
Mulch can:
- Reduce weeds
- Slow evaporation
- Moderate soil temperature
- Reduce soil splash
- Limit erosion
- Add organic matter
Good Vegetable Garden Mulches
Try:
- Straw
- Pine straw
- Shredded leaves
- Grass clippings from untreated lawns
- Finished compost
- Fine wood-based mulch in paths
When to Mulch
For warm-season crops, let the soil warm first.
Then mulch.
For cool-season crops, mulch can help stabilize moisture and temperature.
Keep Mulch Away From Stems
Do not pile mulch against:
- Tomato stems
- Squash crowns
- Pepper stems
- Tree trunks
Leave a small gap.
Weed First
Mulch works best when applied over relatively weed-free soil.
Do not bury large perennial weeds and expect them to disappear.
Water Before Mulching
If soil is dry, water first.
Mulch slows water loss but does not magically hydrate dry soil.
Refresh as Needed
Organic mulch decomposes.
Add more when the layer becomes thin.
GardenGrowz Tip
If you hate weeding and watering, mulch is your friend.