What is mulch?

Mulch is a protective layer from organic or non-organic material which is placed on the stalk of the plant for protection from darnels, excessive drying of the soil during the hot summer days or frost of the plantations during the winter. The process of placing that protective layer around the plants is called mulching, which leads to regulation of the moisture, the soil and its constant manuring. Mulching is used in agriculture and decorative gardening as well it is connected with time saving and expenses for weeding and protecting the plantations from diseases.

Types of mulch

The organic mulch is created from live material like brank, straw, fresh leaves, mowed grass, filings, peat, compost, pine needles and others. On the other hand the non-organic mulch includes rocks, rubble, recycled materials – rubber, newspapers, plastic and others. Both types of much fight darnels, but the organic mulch has the property to decays and by that enriches the soil. Some types of the non-organic mulch, like the black nylon for example, has the feature of warming the soil and emit heat.

Why mulching your garden?

The answer to that question can be found in the beneficial effect, which this process has on plantations. Mulch helps for:

• improving soil structure and improves soil composition, adding humos after its decomposition
• prevents penetration of weeds and darnels
• regulates the soil temperature (keeps higher temperature on the surface of the soil and emits it during the night, when it is cold)
• retain the moisture of the soil by decreasing the vapor
• improving the aeration by holding the water longer in the soil
• keeping the soil from freezing in the winter and drying in the summer
• preventing the erosion in the soil as a result of heavy rain and their direct impact on the top layer of  the soil