How to Keep Your Garden Well-Mulched (and Why You Should)

But mulch breaks downit’s supposed to.

A lot of people complain about their mulch blowing away, but fortunately this is a solvable problem.

The right way to mulch

The surface of your soil is vulnerable.

It is exposed to the sun and can easily dry out.

Its exposed to the wind, which can blow it away if you dont have plant roots anchoring it.

A healthy layer of three to six inches of mulch can really make a difference.

You want to ensure that this organic material you choose is pulled away from the stems of your plants.

(Mulch shouldnt be up against tree trunks, either.)

Pulling the mulch away creates a well around the base of plants, which is perfect for watering.

Big box stores tend to sell bagged, dyed mulch.

Getting rid of that plastic by taking it back up is a miserable process, too.

Theyre alsofreeI useChipDropto get them yearly and have been using them for 10 years without much issue.

you’ve got the option to also use straw (nothaytheres an important distinction), or leaves.

In the fall, rake or blow your leaves into your beds instead of bagging them.

Leaf mulch becomes amazing compost while supporting local beneficial insects as a place to nest over winter.

Using a heftier amount of mulch, and heftier mulch, means it is less likely to blow away.

Even if some of it does, you still have a substantial amount of it.

It may be simply that what looks like disappearing mulch is really this process taking place.

It can also be that its your dyed mulch losing color.

It should just break down there, as well.

The bigger issue is that your beds are left exposed to the elements and you lose the benefit.

Mulch is a to-do item you should address yearly.

Occasionally, take a peek at the soil below your composting mulch.

Its likely to be a healthy layer of humus full of happy worms andmycorrhizae.