Garden mulch for weed control

[coykiesaol]

There are many widely practiced methods for weed control in gardens and an important method among them is the use of garden mulch. Mulch is a kind of covering placed around plants in order to avoid the growth of weeds. Also, there are additional benefits that could be earned by using garden mulch such as the reduction of erosion and water loss, and also the regulation of soil temperature. And for organic mulches, farmers are able to derive additional advantage since these mulches upon decomposition serve as soil amendments. When you get a pest and building inspection done on your property, you could also seek expert advice on garden mulches. This is because, there are various factors to be taken into consideration while deciding upon which garden mulch or landscape mulch is most suitable for your landscaping needs. Also there are many questions that usually people who are enthusiastic in landscaping raise such as whether any garden mulch affects soil pH. This becomes much more important with the knowledge that the composition of our soil pH has got a hefty impact on plant health.

The best available answer to this question seems to be that soil pH is little influenced by garden mulches. And this is supported by the example that though oak leaf garden mulch is acidic when it is fresh, it turns more alkaline as it decomposes. Also, garden mulch which is composed of pine needles lowers soil pH to only a negligible degree if at all it lowers the soil pH. Also, we should be careful in determining which garden mulch is to be used because one that performs well in one category may be miserable in another.

[Billy]

Let it Rot!: The Gardener's Guide to Composting (Third Edition) (Storey's Down-to-Earth Guides) by Stu Campbell

p.39

Compostable Material Average C/N

Alder or ash leaves ............................ 25

Grass clippings ................................ 25

Leguminous plants (peas, beans,soybeans) ............................. 15

Manure with bedding ........................... 23

Manure ....................................... 15

Oak leaves .................................... 50

Pine needles .............................. 60-100

Sawdust................................. 150-500

Straw, cornstalks and cobs .................. 50-100

Vegetable trimmings ........................... 25

Aged Chicken Manure  ........................  7

Alfalfa ................................................ 12

Newspaper........................................ 175

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Balancing Act (Carbon-to-Nitrogen Ratios)

All organic matter is made up of substantial amounts of carbon (C) combined with lesser amounts of nitrogen (N). The balance of these two elements in an organism is called the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C:N ratio). For best performance, the compost pile, or more to the point the composting microorganisms, require the correct proportion of carbon for energy and nitrogen for protein production. Scientists (yes, there are compost scientists) have determined that the fastest way to produce fertile, sweet-smelling compost is to maintain a C:N ratio somewhere around 25 to 30 parts carbon to 1 part nitrogen, or 25-30:1. If the C:N ratio is too high (excess carbon), decomposition slows down. If the C:N ratio is too low (excess nitrogen) you will end up with a stinky pile.

[FarmI]

Mulch is a

Good grief!