Tending to a garden is a pleasant, calming hobby for a lot of different people. An essential part of gardening is mulching. It keeps away weeds, regulates the temperature and moisture of the soil, and is generally aesthetically pleasing. But the mulch you're used to using may be doing more harm than good.
So what are some more environmentally friendly choices when it comes to mulch? There are quite a few recyclable resources one can use for mulching. Some of the more popular options are peanut shells, rubber, pine bark/needles, eucalyptus, even cocoa husks. Any of these are leaps and bounds better than a typical cypress mulch found in some gardens. Shredded Cyprus is one of the worst things to introduce into a growing garden. Don't let the low price fool you, it's a fungal mat it wet areas and can lose its color and decay in less than 1-2 years - especially in direct sunlight.
The eco-friendly types of mulch listed earlier have many different benefits if chosen as a mulch for your garden. Here are just a few top benefits of each one:
Eucalyptus: Has a very pleasing odor and grows in excess, much more than that of a cypress tree. Color stays longer than Cyprus, fading nicely into yellows and reds.
Rubber: Have an old tire lying around? Turn it into mulch! It Provides cushion for a gardener working on their knees. It Doesn't attract any unwanted insects.
Peanut Shells: Easy DIY project and snack all in one. Excellent source of potassium and nitrogen for the garden. When combined with cottonseed oil, peanut shell mulch can withstand rain a bit longer and save from early decomposition.
Cocoa Husks: Low acid and around 3% nitrogen to work well in a garden. Garden pests shy away from these husks. Lightweight and easy to transfer from storage to your garden.
Pine Bark/Needles: Another pleasant odor, especially around the holidays with a rich pine scent. Color lasts the longest out of any natural mulch. Not very rain friendly due to pieces floating if at an incline.
There are many different ways to make sure your garden stays adequately mulched properly. Don't sacrifice the flowers for the wrong kind of much that attacks the environment. Make sure your mulch is environmentally friendly, pest free, and looking great!
The experts and Manfield landscaping can help you get the perfect look while helping the environment.
