How to Mulch Your Flower Garden

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Give your flowers a boost! This guide unlocks the secrets of mulching your flower bed for weed control, moisture retention, and beautiful blooms.

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Types of Mulch Organic: Wood chips, bark, shredded leaves, pine needles, grass clippings, straw, compost. These break down over time, improving soil quality. Inorganic: Rubber, stones, gravel, plastic sheeting. These tend to last longer but don’t add nutrients to the soil.

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The best time to mulch is in the spring to prepare for warmer weather or in the fall to protect plants over winter.

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Before mulching, pull out any existing weeds and if it’s in the spring, apply some corn gluten to help keep weeds from germinating.

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If weed pressure is high, consider laying down cardboard or a few layers of newspaper to help prevent weeds from popping up. They will both break down and help enrich your soil. Avoid using landscape fabric – they don’t do much, are not fun to weed or plant in later, and are not great in flower gardens.

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Aim for a mulch layer 2-3 inches deep. Any thicker than that and you could prevent water and air from reaching the soil where your plant roots need it most.

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And finally, avoid piling mulch directly against tree trunks and plant bases. Doing so can cause pest and disease problems. So keep a few inches of clearance around the base of your plants.

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Follow along to learn more about how to mulch your flower garden.

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Learn my easy care approach to growing flowers no matter what size garden you have.

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