The Best Time to Use Mulch for Gardening
Mulching is easy but knowing the right time to mulch flower beds and other plantings is key to getting the most benefits from mulch.
Mulching a Garden in Spring
You might be in a hurry to get your landscape looking its best when the weather warms up, but don't mulch a flower bed or garden too early in the spring. Give the soil a chance to warm. Mulching too early will actually slow down the warming process. Normally, mid- to late spring is the best time to put down mulch.
Seedlings can work their way through a thin layer of mulch, but a layer that’s too deep might be impenetrable. Let your plants get off to a good start. You can always add more mulch after the plants are established. You may need to apply additional mulch in the summer to retain moisture.
Some mulch, such as mulch that includes herbicide, is not suitable for use with edible plants. Read and follow mulch package instructions for use and safety.
Mulching a Garden in Fall
You might want to add mulch in late fall — after the first heavy frost — to insulate plant roots from the cold. If your garden has a layer of mulch during the winter, pull it away gradually as the temperatures warm. If you remove it all at once, the tender, new growth underneath could be affected by a late-season cold snap.
How Much Mulch Do You Need for Gardening and Landscaping?
One reason to apply mulch is to control and kill weeds. However, the mulch can do the same to your desired plants, so don't pile too much on them. Knowing how much mulch to use can be tricky. A 1-inch to 2-inch layer of fine mulch should be sufficient, while a coarser material should be 3 to 4 inches deep. Too much of either type can suffocate your plants. In areas where you simply want to keep anything from growing, you can lay it on as thick as you like. Here are more tips for using the right amount of mulch for gardens, shrubs and trees:
- Coverage varies greatly based on what type of mulch you use and how deeply you layer it.
- To prevent stems and bark from rotting and to help prevent pests from damaging your plantings, pull mulch 2 to 3 inches away from woody stems and tree trunks. A pre-shaped mulch tree ring is an option to place around trunks.
- Mulch that's too deep stimulates root growth in the mulch layer rather than in the ground. The resulting shallow root system is susceptible to cold and drought damage.
Our Mulch and Soil Calculator will help you estimate how much mulch you need to buy for your landscaping projects.
Mulching Gardens, Trees, Slopes and More
From an appearance perspective, consider the size and style of the area where you're putting the mulch. For example, pine bark nuggets may be too large for a bed of annuals but perfect for an area around trees or shrubs.
Pathways, slopes and areas prone to flooding or high wind need special consideration. Consider using a heavier or larger material here. There are mulch products manufactured specifically not to float away.
The area needs to be weed free before mulching. In general, the bigger the pieces or chunks, the deeper the layer needs to be. Smaller-sized mulches will work their way into the soil more quickly.
If you wish, you can work mulch made from wood or bark into the soil at the season's end to improve the soil.
Consider investing in these helpful products when mulching. Work gloves prevent wear on your hands. Since mulch is light compared to other materials, such as soil, a larger-capacity wheelbarrow (8- to 10-cubic feet) saves time when transporting mulch to your garden or flower beds. A garden rake is great for spreading mulch evenly.
Insects and Mulch
During
wet seasons, you may notice that there are more bugs than normal in your mulch,
but these insects don’t tend to cause problems. Termites might be attracted to
the wood in compost, but they like larger pieces of wood. They don’t like
finely shredded mulch or bark nuggets, and mulches made from cypress, cedar or
eucalyptus are not as popular with the termite set. Shredded rubber mulch or
other inorganic mulches like stone or crushed rock are excellent alternatives
if you find your mulch is popular with insects.
Mulch Colors
Improve your curb appeal by choosing a mulch color that complements your home. Consider your home's exterior colors to determine the right mulch color for your property. Mulch typically comes in brown, red, black or gold, giving you several options as you complete your landscape area. If you have a brick home, you might choose a mulch that best accents the tones of the brick. It's easy to find landscaping ideas with black mulch and brown mulch since these shades are incredibly versatile. Look for mulches with protectants that help the mulch retain its vibrancy throughout the season.
Brown Mulch Landscaping Ideas
- Use brown mulch around trees and shrubs to give the landscape a more natural look.
- If your yard borders a wooded area, use brown mulch to soften the boundary between woods and a landscaped lawn.
- Brown mulch works well with rustic or farmhouse outdoor décor to give your landscape a relaxed feel.
- Use brown mulch in flower beds around a red brick house to complement the look of the home.
- Similarly, using brown shades when mulching a garden of flowers with red blossoms and green foliage creates a nice look.
As a richer shade of brown, gold mulch works well for these ideas as well.
Black Mulch Landscaping Ideas
- Use black mulch around flowers with colorful or bright white blooms to show off the blossoms and foliage.
- Lay black mulch next to a house with white siding to set up a bold contrast.
- Border black mulch in a flower bed with white stones for similar contrast and to accent your lawn.
- Combine black mulch and white stepping stones or gravel to create a walkway. These elements make a dramatic combination in the daytime and the walkway stands out at night.
Since black mulch absorbs heat from the sun more readily than other mulch colors, it’s not a good choice for plants that don’t tolerate heat. Similarly, if you live in a hot part of the country that gets lots of sunlight, black mulch isn’t the best choice for mulching a garden or flower bed.
Red Mulch Landscaping Ideas
- Like brown mulch, you can apply red mulch to give a landscape a relaxed and rustic feel.
- Use red mulch along wooded areas to maintain a natural feel with a bit more character than brown mulch creates.
- Create an attractive background for the green foliage of non-flowering plants.
- Mulch a garden of white or yellow flowers to give the blooms an attractive backdrop.
Landscaping With Stones and Mulch
You can landscape with stones and mulch to create eye-catching displays.
- Lay mulch throughout a landscape area and add a stone border.
- Lay mulch and a rock or stone border along a sidewalk or driveway.
- Create a walkway with mulch, pavers and edging stones.
Rocks and stones help contain the mulch, create a visual separation and set up a nice contrast of textures. You can create an additional visual contrast between the colors of the landscaping stones and the mulch.
How to Mulch: Do’s and Don’ts
- Do mulch around your trees. While your mulching might focus on larger planting areas, add mulch around your trees too. Make sure to keep the mulch several of inches back from the trunks.
- Do keep mulch away from the house. When spreading your mulch, make sure it's not touching your house. If it does, it can create a path for pests, including termites, to find a way indoors.
- Do tend to your mulch between seasons. After heavy rain or snow, you can use a rake to fluff the mulch to improve its appearance.
- Don't mulch too often. In general, plan on mulching your beds twice a year — in the spring and fall.
- Don't leave soil exposed around plants. Mulch is important to protect the soil beneath it, so spread evenly throughout your landscape area with no bare spots. Mulch can also help reduce erosion and runoff on your property.
- Don't use landscape fabric with mulch made from wood, bark or straw. These types of mulch break down and benefit your soil. Landscape fabric keeps the material from reaching the soil.