Mulching performs a variety of functions in the garden. Most importantly, it conserves soil moisture, reducing the amount of water we need to apply to our gardens and pots. Compost dug into your garden improves soil quality by helping to retain water, improving drainage and encouraging worms and other micro flora and fauna.
Compost
Compost is one of the most affordable sources of organic matter available. You can create soil-enriching compost from such things as grass clippings, food scraps, newspapers and garden prunings.
Regularly digging either home made or commercial compost into your soil will greatly improve the ability of your soil to hold water as well as provide valuable nutrients for your plants.
Mulch
Up to 73% of water can be evaporated from the soil on a hot day if you do not have a protective layer of mulch on top. Mulch has many beneficial effects. Not only does it help prevent water loss from the soil, but many mulches add nutrients to the soil as they break down and can help to suppress weed growth. There are different types of mulch that should be used in different circumstances. Generally peastraw and lucerne are best if you have not mulched the soil for a long time, as they break down quickly
and it’s easier for the worms to eat. These mulches are also rich in nutrients and are ideal for vegie gardens.
Hardwood chips with no fine particles are generally the best ground cover mulch as they allow good air flow and let water freely flow through to the ground below.
Mulch with fine grade material has a tendency to clump and become water repellent. After mulching don’t water your garden as often or you could drown your plants.
Composting and Mulching Tips
1. Your compost bin or heap should be on soil, not concrete, so it drains well and the worms and bacteria can enter the bin to decompose the waste.
2. All compost bins or heaps, need a balance of materials that:
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are high in nitrogen, such as blood & bone or chook manure.
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contain carbon, such as dried leaves or shredded newspapers.
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contain both carbon & nitrogen, such as kitchen scraps, pea straw and green garden prunings.
3. In addition, the compost heap or bin needs:
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water, but only enough so that the contents are moist but not wet.
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oxygen, from air, added by regularly turning over the contents of the heap.
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warmth, by putting it in a sunny place.
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to have easy access.
4. The soil needs to be damp before you add mulch, so late spring (November) is the best time to put on mulch once the winter rains have soaked.
5. Local plants and natives like a relatively infertile soil so they prefer hardwood bark mulch once the soil has been improved with pea straw.
More Information
Make your own Compost by Yvonne Cave
Gardening Down-Under by Kevin Handreck
The Natural Magic of Mulch by Michael J. Roads
www.ecorecycle.vic.gov.au
www.sgaonline.org.au