Mulches are stuff that is placed over the surface of soil to preserve moisture along with improving the conditions of soil. These are among those most beneficial and handy things that a home owner can make use of for health of his trees and plants. Mulch can not only minimize the weed competition but can also reduce the chances of water loss from the field’s soil along with improving ardently the structure of your field’s soil. If mulches are used and applied properly, these can give your landscape a well groomed attractive appearance. But at the same time if used wrong, like if mulch is too deep, this can actually cause some major harms to your trees along with other plants at your landscape.
Type of Mulches
Mulches are available in two forms – organic and inorganic mulches. Organic mulches consist of cocoa hulls, wood chips, hardwood or softwood bark, leaves, pine needles, manure mixes, along with a range of some other products but all of these are usually derivative of plants. Such kind of mulches decomposes and decays in the fields at diverse pace, totally depending on the climate as well as the material. The decomposition progression improves fertility and quality of the soil. There are micro-organisms in the soil that ensure decomposition of these.
Inorganic mulches include geo-textile fabrics, lava rock, stones, pulverized rubber etc. This type of mulch does not decay or decompose and hence do not perk up the soil structure or provide nutrients or add organic materials to the soil.
Too Much is Bad
Though both kinds of mulches are good for your landscape yet the proverb, ‘Excess of Everything is Bad’ also implies here. Using too much of mulches can be harmful for your landscape. Experts only recommend a mulching depth, averagely, up to 2-4 inches only. Excess of mulching may cause –
- Deep mulch may cause over moisture in your tree’s root zone hence causing the roots to rot or decay.
- Too much of mulches also affect the pH level of your field’s soil resulting to deficiency or toxicity of some micro-nutrients.
- High mulch piles can become the home of rodents which are certainly a bad thing for your plants.
- Excess use of these can result into some sour or foul smell in your field.
So always consult a professional arborist to know how much mulch your field requires.
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