Q: Should I mulch my garden space?

A:

Making a Case for Mulch

July and August bring intense heat and also rapid weed growth to our gardens. During these months you may notice things like drooping leaves, weeds growing around the bases of your plants, yellow or discolored leaves and potential blossom end rot ( the fruit where the blossom was attached turns black and leathery). Extreme heat can make water evaporate too quickly and rapid weed growth will take nutrients away from the vegetable plants. Mulching can help cut down on the amount of time you spend weeding, help with water retention and keep plant roots from becoming to hot.

How to make mulch work for you:

1. Pick a natural mulch free from dyes and pesticides. Avoid pine mulches they will change the PH of your soil.

2. Weed and prune the area thoroughly

3. Apply about a 1 inch layer of mulch to the garden bed

4. Leave a 1 inch border around plant stems. ( mulch touching the stems can sometime cause fungal growth)