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Some days I wonder if it’s worth the effort to MULCH the garden and flower beds. Then I look at the benefits of mulching and soon realize its rewards exceed the toil and trouble. Organic matter, that’s what mulch is all about, has many benefits. Mulch maintains cooler soil temperatures in the spring and summer, and warmer soil temperatures in the fall. Mulch controls weeds, and reduces evaporation of soil moisture. Mulch reduces soil compaction and improves soil structure. One big benefit is environmental, for everything I can keep out of the landfill becomes a community benefit in reduced costs.

Let’s look at a few of the different organic materials that I can use for mulching the yard. GRASS CLIPPINGS are a very good source of organic matter for the soil and will actually add nutrients. Of course I hate to pick up my grass clippings because when left on the lawn they replace one application of fertilizer a year. A look at the analysis of grass clippings finds that grass clippings contain 4% nitrogen, 1/2 % phosphorus, and 2 % potassium. Wet grass can be added directly to the compost pile or worked into the soil. Wet grass will mat down and repel water. As a mulch, they must be dry. Drying occurs best when applied in less than a 1/2 inch layer over the areas one wants mulched. I find it necessary to apply this layer multiple times until the mulch layer is two to three inches deep.

TREE LEAVES are low in nitrogen, and may even tie-up some of the soil nitrogen, but are a good source of micro-nutrients. I like to use a combination of chopped leaves and grass which keeps the leaves from blowing away. Mowing and bagging (catching) the leaves in the fall gives me the right combination. I usually pile them in the fall and put them around my garden and flower beds in the spring. This works for me in a yard that is exposed to winds. I wish I had more pine needles among my leaves, as the combination holds mulch best.

Here at the office, I receive several calls about using newspaper at mulch. NEWSPAPERS are a good source of mulch. They are very effective in preventing weed growth, especially when used underneath another organic mulch. In a vegetable garden or annual flower bed, place the newspapers one or two layers thick, and cover with grass clippings, shredded tree leaves, straw or hay. In a perennial flower bed or around trees, newspaper layers can be placed thicker and covered with wood chips. Newspaper, under another mulch will also smother out unwanted grass.

WOOD CHIPS, HAY and STRAW are the more obvious types of mulch. Each has its place in the landscape. Christmas tree branches and needles should be on the list of mulches to save. Wood chips are can be made by chipping the branches one cuts off the trees. If a chipper is not available, many of these branches can still be used as a loose mulch to help catch snow or laid on top of other organic mulches to keep them from blowing. Wood chips often tie-up much of the nitrogen if worked into the soil. Wood chips are ideal as a surface mulch around trees, shrubs, and in perennial flower beds. I find that wood chips add a “natural look” to the landscape.

Some gardeners are concerned about mulch material adding too much acid to the soil. Most south central Nebraska soil can benefit from acidification, so anything mentioned above will be more positive than negative. The extremes of Nebraska weather make mulching very beneficial, much a bigger factor than the concern of acidifying the soil.

My last question to answer when mulching is “how much and when?” Recommendations for using mulch are usually 2-3 inches deep, applied to annual flowers and vegetables about mid-June. Mulching trees and shrubs requires 4-6 inches of mulch depth. This will conserve moisture, reduce weeds and protect the root system. The University of Nebraska Horticulture has a great Nebguide available on the web or through the Extension Office, G95-1257-A “Mulches for the Home Landscape.” To answer by own question, yes, by all means, mulch!!

About the author: Don Siffring

Don Siffring is a 6 year Master Gardener with the University of Nebraska Extension in Adams County. He is a professor emeritus with the University of NE, Institute of Agriculture. Don works part-time as a Horticulture Aide with UNL Extension in Adams County. Don and his wife, Bev, retired to the Hastings Community in in 2003 to be closer to their married daughter and husband, Christi and Brian Berns of Bladen.