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If you have ever taken care of plants, you probably know how TLC they need. To keep your plants and soil healthy and thriving you need to apply a layer of mulch. When properly selected and correctly applied, mulch provides many benefits for plants. Wood chip mulch is one of the best choices for this purpose. Just take a look at the trees growing in the forest and you can spot chipped wood mulch on their bottom.
Wood chip mulch, especially pine bark and eucalyptus mulch, is the best option for native plants as they promote microorganism activity and enhance nutrients in the soil. As they decompose, they release nutrients into the soil, boosting the health of your plants. According to Australian arborists, wood chip mulch helps stop weed growth and provides superior water penetration. It also helps with moisture retention and stabilizes the soil’s temperature. All these qualities make wood chip mulch, such as pine bark and eucalyptus mulch, ideal for supporting the health of native trees, shrubs and flowers.
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Soil Moisture Retention
The most common problem of outdoor plants is lack of moisture retention in the soil. During the hot and dry days (which are very common in Australia), lots of water evaporates from the surface. Adding wood chips to your garden will prevent the loss the excess water from the soil. This means your plants will be able to consume more water even during the hot days.
A Mulch That Breaks Down With Time
Although rubber and synthetic mulches break down very slowly, they don’t really contribute to the health of the soil. Wood chip mulch, on the other hand, breaks down over the years naturally, adding essential elements to your garden.
Repel Pests
Wood chips of pine cedar and cypress work best to repel pests. They quickly reduce the flea population that may affect your garden. You can also use wood chips to effectively eliminate ticks and gnats from your garden and home as well. It’s important to remember not to place mulch close to your home structure as there is a danger of a fire hazard. Many people wonder does eucalyptus mulch keep bugs away. Research shows that eucalyptus mulch does help reduce insects, especially termite activity.
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Weed Control
A 5-10 centimetres thick layer of wood chips also helps prevent the growth of weeds in your garden as there will be less sunlight to the unwanted plants. If you have shrubs in your garden, these could greatly benefit from the addition of wood chip mulch. Just make sure you add the wood chips at the right time as placing them too early can hinder seeds from properly germinating.
Flexibility
Perhaps the greatest benefit of using wood chips in your garden is their flexibility to be used in a variety of ways. For instance, you can use them as mulch around the base for trees or shrubs, as a cover to temporarily control erosion, or as a subtract for mushroom cultivation. In fact, euca mulch is especially beneficial for growing mushrooms – it boosts their colour, texture, and flavour.
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Where to Buy Wood Chip Mulch?
You may have heard that you shouldn’t use the kind of mulch made of fallen trees because it may transmit diseases or insects to your garden. Although there is a risk that could happen, there are still some things you can do to ensure you benefit from this kind of mulch. One of them is asking which woods were chopped for the mulch and whether pesticides have been used on them to make sure what you get is safe to use on your plants. Generally, wood chip mulch provided by tree removal companies is made from storm-fallen trees or trees that have hindered power lines.
What about bugs, you may ask? The majority of insects won’t survive the chipping and shredding process, so you don’t have to worry much about that. Termites are also unlike to tag along in wood chip mulch – they tend to prefer old lumber and railroad ties over wood chip mulch. Keep the mulch at least 15 centimetres away from your house or your garden shed if you have one, just to make sure insects won’t wander.
When to Mulch Your Garden?
You can add organic mulch to your garden any time of the year to improve water retention, restrict the growth of weeds and add valuable nutrients to your soil. However, in Australia, probably the best time to mulch is in early spring and early to mid-summer. Before mulching, make sure to clean your garden from weed.
