Much Ado About Mulching

Welcome to my Toad Talk!

Good morning, my dudes!  It's a beautiful, sunny day here in north Alabama.  It's crisp and cool, and looks to be a spectacular week.  

So let's talk about mulch, because what else would we talk about?  😆

Your beds are clean.  Your flowers are planted.  Now you're ready to mulch. 

Mulch has more than one purpose - it not only makes your flowers and shrubs stand out in your beds, but it also keeps your weeds at bay.   

There are several different kinds of mulch that you could use, so let's talk about what kinds are available, and how they work for your beds. 

First, let's talk about organic mulches.  

This is what most people use.  It's your bagged mulches from the big box stores (but buy from small, locally owned stores if you can), and it can also be compost, sawdust, pine needles, straw, or wood chips.   You can buy mulch in bulk from your landscaper, also.  He or she can deliver it to your property in his truck or trailer, and install for you.    

Pros of organic mulch:  Well, it's organic.  That's always going to be healthier for you, because there are far fewer toxins.  It also allows you to often upcycle, as those tree limbs that you no longer need can be shredded into mulch.   Also, the darker your mulch, the warmer your soil underneath will be, and your plants can use that extra few degrees of warmth for growth.  

Cons of organic mulch:  It usually only lasts for about a year, so in the spring when you're ready to redo your flower bed,  you'll probably need to redo your mulch.  It dries out, and the color fades.  The faster it fades depends on how well your beds drain, and how much rain you get.  

Next, let's talk about inorganic mulches.

There are lots of inorganic mulches as well.   You can buy plastic or rubber mulch, geotextiles, rocks or stones, as examples.  

Plastic or rubber mulches aren't recommended by the Grumpy Toad, and let me tell you why.   It's best as far as longevity, because plastic or rubber mulch can last for years.  Instead of replacing your organic mulch every year, you'll have plastic or rubber for yeeeeears.    Guess what else you'll have for years?   Toxins in your flowerbed.   Many plastics and rubber mulches have VOCs (volatile organic compounds), plus other toxins that seep into your flower bed, as the mulch heats up.   Just doesn't seem safe to me, as far as your children, your pets, or your plants.  

Other, safer inorganic mulches could be rocks or stone.   There are many, many different kids to choose from, including lava rock.  Look how porous the lava rack is!  It's also deceptively light.  Not nearly as heavy as regular rocks and stones. 

My choice?   My choice is a little of both organic mulch and stone.  I love the way it looks!

 

Thanks for stopping by, y'all, and let us know if you'd like to set up a time to work on your flower beds for you!