Using Mulch For Your Landscape Design - Organic Vs. Inorganic
Mulch is an incredibly useful and efficient tool that can contribute greatly to your landscape design. Its benefits extend beyond just visual appeal as it will help to create a healthy environment for your soil by retaining moisture, preventing weed growth and protecting your plants root system. This article will discuss organic and inorganic mulch and how they can apply to your specific space.
Organic Mulch
Organic mulch can be defined as coming from something that was previously alive. This includes bark, wood chips, hay, and organic compost, which all come with their own pros and cons. Deciding on which type of mulch is best for you depends on the environment you're in. The main drawback of organic mulch is that it will decompose over time, thereby creating an added cost of replacement to the owner. Bark mulch is typically one of the slowest decomposing mulches available, which makes it a popular type for many gardens, however organic compost is one of the most beneficial mulches for your soil in terms of the nutrients it will give back to your existing soil.
When laying your mulch, you'll need to spread it out 2–3 inches deep in order to allow enough oxygen to reach the soil while still creating enough padding to retain moisture and prevent weeds. When you reach plants and trees, be sure to leave several inches around the root of the plant to prevent fungus and diseases from breaking out.
Inorganic Mulch
Inorganic mulch can be defined as something that was never alive and will therefore never break down over time. These mulches include stones, pebbles, plastic sheet, and rubber chips.
There are two major benefits to inorganic mulch: first, it does not decompose and will therefore not create much of an added expense to the owner in terms of replacement and maintenance. Second, inorganic mulches like stones and pebbles create a nice, visually appealing aesthetic for your landscape design. If you live in a dry climate, like that of Arizona or New Mexico, then an inorganic mulch could be a great choice to go with your cactus plants or other succulents as these plants can survive on very dry, unhealthy soil.
If you're primary goal is vegetable or plant growth, then inorganic mulch should be avoided, as weeds will eventually grow through and the mulch will not work to benefit your soil. In these cases, organic mulch would be a better choice.