Mulch Harrisburg PA helps soil retain moisture, especially in the summer. It also improves the texture and structure of the soil.

Nature invented mulch long before lawns began, covering the forest floor with layers of leaves and branches. Today, we have many types of synthetic and organic mulches to choose from.

Mulch reduces soil erosion by covering the surface of the soil, preventing wind and water from blowing and washing it away. It also helps to retain soil moisture and prevents rainwater runoff, which can damage plants and waterways. There are several different types of mulch available, including organic and inorganic materials. The type of mulch you choose depends on your landscaping goals and needs. Organic materials include leaves, grass clippings, wood chips and bark. These are easy to find in your own yard or can be purchased at gardening centers and home improvement stores. Inorganic materials may include gravel, plastic sheeting and rock.

Soil erosion can degrade the quality of the soil, causing nutrient loss, reducing water retention and causing a reduction in overall crop production. Using mulch, especially in raised beds and garden rows, will greatly reduce soil erosion. This is especially important in sandy soils where soil is more prone to wind and water erosion.

In addition to reducing soil erosion, mulching can improve overall soil quality. The organic matter in the mulch can improve the structure and pore space of the soil, as well as increase its aeration and water holding capacity. The microbial community in the soil is also enhanced by the use of mulch. The microorganisms in the soil are necessary for nutrient cycling and help to improve the soil structure.

Another benefit of mulch is that it can help to improve the amount of nitrogen in the soil. Nitrogen is a key nutrient for plant growth and is essential for most vegetable crops. When organic material, such as manure or shredded wood is used for mulching, it can increase the nitrogen content of the soil. However, it is important to avoid using non-organic material for mulching. In particular, do not use petrochemical-based products such as plastics or weed cloths. These can kill the beneficial biology in the soil and disrupt natural nutrient cycles.

Prevents Weed Growth

Weeds steal nutrients from the soil that vegetables and flowers need, so preventing their growth is one of the primary reasons to mulch. Mulch prevents weeds by obscuring them and blocking their access to sunlight. A layer of 2-4 inches of mulch will usually stop new weed seeds from germinating, and with regular maintenance, the weeds themselves will die before they have a chance to grow.

Organic mulches, including compost, shredded leaves, well-rotted manure and garden waste, provide both soil moisture conservation and amendment. These also add essential nutrients to the soil, especially if they are well-rotted before use. However, many of these materials may contain weed seeds and should be kept to a minimum, unless they are shredded or sifted first to remove the seedlings. Straw, for example, is an excellent weed suppressant for vegetable gardens, but it contains many seeds.

Non-biodegradable mulches, such as tanbark, wood chips, slate, shingle and gravel, do not add nutrients but still prevent weed growth and conserve moisture by reducing evaporation from the soil surface. These can be used in conjunction with a pre-emergent weed killer to ensure that any surviving weeds are killed before they get too large.

For semi-organic and inorganic mulches, such as cardboard and newspaper, a light layer (a few sheets at most) is enough to inhibit weed growth and keep the soil moist. This can be combined with a layer of heavier mulch, such as compost or well-rotted manure, to keep the cardboard or newspaper from blowing away in windy weather. This technique can also be facilitated by lightly soaking the cardboard or newspaper before application, to increase its weight. However, it is important to remember that planting through the cardboard or newspaper can be labor intensive, as holes must be cut for each plant.

Prevents Soil-Borne Diseases

Mulch protects the roots of shrubs, trees, and plants by keeping them cool, moist, and free from weeds in summer; in winter, it keeps soil warmer. It also helps prevent soil erosion in harsh weather. Over time, mulch enriches the soil with valuable organic matter.

There are many different kinds of mulch, some natural and some synthetic (inorganic). Among the natural ones we can find plant husks, straws, grasses, shredded bark, wood chips, compost, manures, and forest residues. Some of these organic materials are allelopathic, which means they suppress the growth of weeds but do not contribute to soil nutrients, while others like compost or eucalyptus bark nuggets are good for both (Greenly and Rakow 1995). Different research studies showed that woody mulches moderate soil conditions, conserve moisture, do not cause nitrogen deficiency in soil and chlorosis in crop plants, as well as do not reduce yields (Pfammatter and Dessimoz 1997; Pickering and Shepherd 2000).

However, if you use plant husks or other similar material that came from a food crop, there is a risk that it was treated with pesticides or herbicides. This might cause the disease-causing spores to move up through the water and infect the lower foliage of the plants. Using natural biodegradable mulches, such as wood chips or hay or straws, can help prevent this from happening because these materials do not carry toxins. In addition, the natural decomposition of these materials insulates soil and helps moderate temperature extremes, thus preventing the transfer of disease-causing spores from one plant to another. Moreover, this natural insulating layer allows water to move easily through the soil rather than running off or splashing onto leaves. This significantly reduces the incidence of disease-causing pathogens in the lower foliage of plants.

Improves Soil Quality

Mulching with a layer of organic matter, like compost or leaf mould, helps improve the structure of soil. As these materials break down they add valuable nutrients.

The mulch also prevents the germination of annual weed seeds, thus reducing or eliminating cultivation and hand weeding. This can save time and effort as well as reduce the need for chemical weed control. It’s important to use fully-composted, not raw green waste, because they can contain phytotoxicity problems (the plants may be poisoned). A layer of mulch containing tree bark or processed conifer bark is ideal, or grass clippings, straw, well rotted manure, or compost.

In addition to helping the soil by adding organic matter, mulches can help regulate temperature and moisture. Mulch can keep the soil cool during hot climatic conditions, thus improving plant growth and decreasing nutrient deficiencies (Kader et al. 2019). It can also conserve the soil’s water content during dry periods.

Generally, mulches provide an excellent medium for microbial activities, which in turn increase the nutrients in the crop plants and improves the soil quality. For example, straw or hay mulches have been found to increase the soil respiration and microbial populations. Other mulches such as coir or vermicompost have also been found to increase the nutrient levels in the plants and soil. Mulches containing woody material, such as pine bark and sawdust, can also increase the nutrient levels in the plants as they decompose. (Szwedo and Maszczyk 2000). They can even increase the nutrient level in the foliage of the crop plants (Balasubramanian et al. 2013). However, mulches with high nitrogen contents such as shredded leaves and rotting wood debris can cause a decrease in the soil pH and the availability of soluble nutrients (Pickering and Shepherd 2000). This is because they produce phenolic acids, which can acidify the soil.

Reduces Water Loss

Mulching conserves soil moisture by reducing evaporation. It also moderates the surface temperature of soil, protecting roots from freezing and thawing. This reduces the amount of water that needs to be added to the soil, which helps to cut down on irrigation costs. The fact that mulch helps keep weeds under control and aerates the soil means there is less need to water, even when it’s hot and dry.

It is important to note that the evaporation of water from soil can be significant, especially on warm, sunny days. The use of mulch can prevent this from happening and can help with water conservation in flower beds, vegetable gardens, and outdoor container plants1.

Organic mulch materials like grass clippings, leaves, or compost decompose over time, adding valuable organic matter to the soil. This enhances the structure of the soil, improving its water-holding capacity, and can promote plant growth2.

The ridge-furrow mulching system is used in Losses Plateau region to successfully cultivate dryland crops like wheat and maize with high yields3.

Studies have shown that various types of organic mulches can effectively control erosion by keeping soil moistened and inhibiting evaporation4,5. The effect of different mulching materials on the water-infiltration properties of the soil differs due to the difference in their water permeability and their ability to retain water5-6.

A layer of newspaper mulch is particularly effective at preventing erosion during rainy weather because it has a high water-infiltration rate. It is also much cheaper than other types of mulch. However, the paper will have to be removed after some time because it will start to break down and can be blown away by wind.