There are so many options when it comes to mulching, so let’s sift through some of the natural mulches I like to use here on the farm! The mulches that I like to use on perennial areas of the garden are a bit different than the ones I like to use on the annual areas in that they have more longevity!
On the annual side of the garden, there are so many mulches to choose from it can get overwhelming, so I ranked the ones I use at the farm from least to most favorite and why! We also discuss why we no longer use landscape fabric as a mulch here at the farm and what we will be using instead!
At the end of the day, the best mulch may just be the one you have the most readily available to you, so think about what you have access to!
DO PINE NEEDLES MAKE SOIL ACIDIC? https://extension.unh.edu/blog/2019/10/do-pine-trees-pine-needles-make-soil-more-acidic#:~:text=A%20very%20common%20gardening%20myth,not%20determined%20by%20the%20tree.
26 Comments
Hello, have you ever heard of mugwart? I don't know how but it has infested all my flower beds. Would you have any suggestions on how to get rid of it naturally? Thak, you!
Thank you for another super video👍 out here on the arid northeastern Co plains, mulch is a must. We use straw because it's readily available and it makes the soil really nice.
Cover crop residue is brilliant! Never thought of that.
i use chopped hay/straw, wood chips in many areas, leaf shreds , and also living mulch/groundcovers
The one resource I have an abundance of is grass clippings. So far they've worked well for me.
oh! on another channel i saw a simple test for graz on! plant some legumes in the straw bale. if they die…
What do you suggest as mulch when slugs and snails are your biggest backyard garden pests?
That was sooooo helpful! I could give you a big hug!!! Thank you!😊⭐️
I've not been able to find un-sprayed straw AT ALL in my area.
I've heard of testing it by soaking it and watering "test" seedlings with the water.
Lol, be happy you don’t have to pull up black plastic that evil hostas rooted through. Previous owner had used plastic not fabric like yours and it does not pull up, well, in pieces😅
I know I won’t use marsh hay again. It was free and I used on part of garlic and I think it smothered it.
Another thing about mulch is it can bring in gophers, moles, ect and I think it contributed to cut worms on potatoes last year. I could never use a Ruth Stout method here as the gophers would set up condos😅
My favourite is fallen leaves because we have lots of them come fall. I've not yet been brave enough to gather the leaves that fall in the street out of concern for contamination from cars/pollutants, but it's disheartening watching them flow into/up to the gutter or see the street cleaner deal with them as if they're waste. Do you have any suggestions for managing the risk of contaminants with leaves that fall into urban streets? I wonder about using them to mulch the boulevard where we don't grow food, but I'm not sure if accumulating in that soil might be a problem for someone or something else.
Thank you for sharing. I have a box full of wood shavings that I used to over winter my Dahlias so I’m glad I can use that for covering 😁
Thank you very much, this is very useful. I have a question about using ground cover for as mulch. When we plant ground cover, do you mulch them in between when we wait for them to grow close together? or just left the bare soil between spacing? Thank you very much.
We have access to pine straw. I have several growing on the property. I cannot use it. It makes our heavy clay soil so compacted. I need something that will help break up the soil a bit. Maybe a cover crop like you mentioned might help.
New subscriber here Thanking God for you all..bought some pine shavings for my small veg bed roses and wild flower bed..spent 12 dollars😊not to mention my granddaughter can use it for her bearded dragon😏🌹Thanks for the great information
Love this video! Question: we have some redwoods in our yard constantly dropping. You mentioned pine needles as a great option. Would you recommend the same for the redwood needles?
👏🏼 thank you for this video 😅❤
I may have to try some cover cropping this winter! Thanks for the tips.
You are my favorite gardening YouTuber, thank you so much for continuing to make these videos, they help me so much ❤
How do you figure out what are the best cover crops to use as living mulch for your soil? I have a mixed perennial/annual bed. More perennials to the back with room for some annuals up front.
No grass clippings?
My favourites are autumn leaves, grass clippings and seaweed. I use wood chips in my pathways. Basically if it is organic material and free it’s a win for me.
Petroleum is not a bad thing in many cases but what you’re doing with natural mulches is great.
This year I'm using poopy belly wool as mulch between the rows and covering it with burlap coffee bags. I used coffee bags last
year and they were excellent. I folded them in half lengthwise and they did manage to suppress weeds quite well.
My favourite mulch is cocoa hull but I haven't been able to obtain any for the past couple of years. Cocoa as in chocolate not
coconut.
How long should I age the chicken manure?
I love you. You are my role model, my inspiration in my very first year of flower farming (!!) I don’t know of anyone else who talks about these topics in as detailed and digestible ways as you do. I am in the midsts of restoring my family’s land that we’ve had for almost 100 years and I always feel so inspired, motivated, and knowledgeable after watching your videos. Thank you thank you thank you 💚