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With summer just around the corner, it’s time to start getting your garden ready to survive (and thrive!) through hot temperatures. We’re here to help Portlanders reduce outdoor water use while growing the garden of their dreams. Mulch is an important step to making your yard more water efficient.
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What is mulch?
Mulch is any material that’s spread over the soil’s surface. It can be organic, made from bark, wood chips, compost, and even aged manure. It can also be inorganic gravel or river rock. No matter what it’s made of, mulch acts as a protective layer for the soil beneath it.
Benefits of mulch
Hydration
Mulch significantly reduces the amount of evaporation that happens at the soil’s surface. With less evaporation, the soil can retain moisture longer. This means that plants will stay hydrated, and you won’t have to water them as often. Mulch also prevents the surface of the soil from becoming compacted from water impact. Preventing soil compaction keeps your soil fluffy and able to absorb water to greater depths.
Weed control
But the benefits don’t stop there—mulch also prevents the growth of weeds. By blocking sunlight from reaching the soil, young weeds cannot receive enough light to produce the sugars they need to grow. So before using a chemical weed killer, try mulch.
And more!
Mulch does all of this while also encouraging strong plant root systems, keeping soil cool, improving soil structure and, in the case of compost mulch, adding nutrients. Not to mention, a layer of mulch on your garden just looks nice!
How much mulch should I use?
A one- to two-inch layer is most effective with compost, leaves, or sawdust. Two to four inches works best for bark or wood chips.