Four cubic yards of mulch in the backyard and one more to go.

Last week’s nice weather had us putting down fresh mulch over the gardens. We hadn’t added mulch since August 2022, a week before a backyard wedding.

Spreading mulch is the gardener’s most gratifying job.

It’s lightweight, easy to spread and gives gardens a fresh, enhanced appearance. The woodsy fragrance is a bonus.

The two main advantages of mulching in the garden are weed suppression and moisture retention. Other pluses include nutrient enhancement, erosion control, reduction of sun heat damage and promotion of soil microbial activity.

Mulch comes in several forms, the most popular being wood chips. Straw, leaves, grass clippings, newspaper and tree bark also can be used for mulch, all organic because they were once alive and will slowly break down.

Wood chips come in many forms. Shredded Canadian pine mulch, my favourite, is long lasting, has a rich brown colour and remains nicely in place when spread.

Because it is shredded, with the fibres locking together, it won’t move or float away. And because it’s primarily bark, it is longer lasting than mulches made from trees’ inner heartwood.

Shredded cedar mulch has the advantage of longevity and wonderful fragrance. Its colour is natural golden brown, and it has a fluffier texture than other mulches. Cedar oils act as a natural preservative, so it lasts longer and requires less replenishment.

Dyed mulches, in red, black, or brown, are made from wood byproducts and shredded to the size of wooden matchsticks. Dyes are added for cosmetic purposes.

You won’t catch me with red-dyed mulch in my backyard. Black mulch offers a contemporary look, while brown looks most natural. Unfortunately, the colouring in the dyed mulch slowly fades.

Economy mulch is made up of tree branches that have gone through a chipper to make smaller pieces. Sourced from arborists or tree-cutting companies, economy mulch offers good quality at a favourable price.

In our backyard, we use economy mulch in the back forty, and finer-textured mulch in the gardens near the house.

Shredded hardwood mulch is essentially the same as economy mulch, but has been put through a grinding machine to obtain a finer consistency.

Those who want a clean landscape providing nearly 100 per cent weed control should consider using beach stone, pea stone or one of many coloured aggregates. Be sure to put down a weed barrier fabric over the soil and under the aggregate.

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