Home Gardening: Understanding the Popular Wood Mulch Options

Mulching is an important practice in home gardening, so choosing the right supplies is crucial. Basically, this process involves application of organic, and sometimes inorganic, materials around garden plants as a cover for the ground. The mulch provides insulation against extreme cold and heat, preventing damage to the pertinent plants. The material helps in retaining water for longer in the ground, particularly on hot days. Mulch can also suppress weed growth, which means that there will be less competition for your plants. In addition, it can serve as an attractive and decorative cover for your landscaping. Here are the primary forms of wood mulch to consider using in your garden.

Wood Chip Mulch

Wood chips can be used as garden mulch and may be applied around bushes, trees and similar perennial plants. This material consists of pieces of wood in different sizes, and they can be obtained from varying trees. Wood chip mulch is favoured because it provides extensive protection to the plants with regard to moisture and extreme temperatures. Moreover, the chips will decompose over time and provide nutrients to the soil. On the other hand, chips can cause the garden to look a little messy. Therefore, choose evenly coloured material for ideal aesthetics. In addition, when you apply fresh wood chips, ensure that they are not mixed with the soil because they tend to absorb nitrogen.

Tree Bark Mulch

Mulching materials obtained from tree barks are relatively popular in residential gardening. Typically, bark wood mulch is supplied in shredded form or even chunks, so you can choose the best match for your applications. In general, bark materials are dark and quite attractive. They are suited for application in prominent areas of the garden or landscaping. This property also makes them suitable for application on germinating plants. In simple terms, the dark colour allows for absorption of heat, which facilitates faster germination and initial growth. When choosing bark mulch, you have the option to use large or small pieces. Large chunks will provide more aesthetic appeal, while shredded pieces will decompose faster and enrich the soil.

Sawdust

Sawdust mulch is favoured over alternatives because the wood is in small pieces. The larger surface area to volume ratio allows the pieces to decompose fast and provide nutrients to the soil. On the other hand, this rapid decay often translates to increased acidity of the soil. Therefore, you should use it for acid-loving plants to avoid negative repercussions. It is also advisable to use course sawdust since finer material is prone to compaction.

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