Mulches in the Garden? I need Insight...

[John Gusmano]

I’ve been reading a lot stating that mulch is good for your vegetable plants and in your garden?

Can any of you provide any insight into this???

Which is the best mulch to put into your garden for maximum results?

[Deleted]

Apr 1, 2015 12:48:18 GMT -5 John Gusmano said:

I’ve been reading a lot stating that mulch is good for your vegetable plants and in your garden?

Can any of you provide any insight into this???

Which is the best mulch to put into your garden for maximum results?

NO!!!! Don't use mulch!!!! There are many risks especially using the wrong kind. Many can have ill effects on the soil. Stick with compost, aged manure, potting or topsoil

[histopicker]

I concur with CJ, Organic mulches are not fully decomposed and rob the soil of nitrogen to break down. I use plastic sheeting as a mulch with sub-surface irrigation but things like straw or shavings do more harm than good.

[northshore]

 We use seaweed as mulch it keeps the weeds down and have to water less. At the end of the season, we till it in or rake it up and put it in the compost. It is s good fertilizer and adds a bit of organic matter to the soil. It is also free here a lots of it you just got to pick it up.

[bk]

I've used organic mulches in the garden and worked in gardens with mulch since I was a very little boy.  

That being said, your soil and your fertilizing make a big difference in how the mulch breaks down and how it changes your soil chemistry. CJ and histopicker are certainly correct about it using nitrogen as it breaks down, and it will break down.  With plenty of nitrogen rich fertilizer (yup, we used to raise chickens), using hay and straw for a mulch wasn't a problem. End of the growing season it was just disked in and added to the humus, and back on the home place with our heavy clay soil we needed all the humus we could get.

I do know it keeps the weeds to a minimum and really holds the moisture in the soil - and keeps the veggies very clean.  I'm not overly fond of plastic mulch, but a lot of that comes from having to pick up plastic mulch and silage tube that was the neighbors is now on my acres following a good blow.   I'll continue to use organic mulch.  If you have enough area, try some different types and see what works best for you - plastic, straw, etc.  Good luck with the garden - no matter what you do, it will be better than not having a garden at all.