EdenMaker Tip:

Recycled tumbled glass mixed with broken tile is used as mulch in this garden vignette

Mulching your garden bed is an art form?

It is to me! 

When I have over one-hundred different materials that can be used to mulch my garden bed, I select the one that is most suitable for the site and plants, compliments the design and is priced within my budget.

I don't consider my garden work complete if I don't give my beds a finished look with mulch.

With so many options its worth taking a look at the benefits, disadvantages and aesthetic value of different mulch materials.

 

 

Watch  Shirley's video on selecting the perfect mulch for your garden.

What is Mulch?

Mulch is any organic or inorganic material that is used to "top dress" or cover the soil in the garden.

You can buy mulch at your local nursery or landscape center or you can find "free" organic mulch like pine needles and leaves around your yard that can be shredded and used as mulch.

Did you know that  seaweed can be used as mulch?

Inorganic mulches include non-living materials such as stone, shredded rubber, black plastic and tumbled glass.

Recycled peach pits from Pit's In Pieces makes a gorgeous and aromatic mulch with a uniform look.

Pit's In Pieces peach mulch repels snails, is long lasting and does not use nitrogen to break down.

My all time favorite mulch!

I use it in my garden.

Why Mulch?

Birth control for the garden!

When your garden soil is covered by a two or three inch layer of mulch, the sun can not penetrate the soil and stimulate weed growth.

In this case, mulch acts as a physical barrier for germination and photosynthesis of those unwanted and "unplanted" plants.

A thicker layer of mulch-up to 4"- inches can be used in cold winter gardens to insulate plants from freezing temperatures. 

 

Recycled rubber tires are colored, shredded and used as a garden mulch and walkway material.

This is a practical mulch for commercial or institutional gardens as they are long lasting and come in a variety of color.

Great for wind-prone areas because of extra weight and I like it in the garden more than in the land fill.

Does Mulch Work?

Not as well as most birth control methods, but effective enough to keep my weeding to a minimum!

If these odds are not to your liking, abstain from gardening 'cause there is no guarantee.

(Have you seen weeds growing through sidewalk cracks?)

That is a serious will to survive.

 Another reason to use mulch is to help maintain moisture in your soil by insulating it from the drying heat and to moderate temperatures around the root zone.

 

Shredded redwood mulch looks best in an informal garden like this one with ornamental grasses and sage where there are large open areas between plant.

 Can Mulch Cause Problems?

Yes, when mulch is applied too densely or incorrectly, it changes from being your garden's friend to it's foe.

Thick layers of mulch do not allow water to percolate into the soil, so your plants die from thirst.

Mulch that is mounded up against a plant is an invitation for root rot in plants, fungus  and harmful bacteria.

Too much trapped moisture can lead to plant death from drowning.

Some mulch materials such as wood chips, shredded newspaper, and shredded bark are great for deterring weeds, but they use up valuable nitrogen from the soil to break down and contribute no valuable nutrients to the soil. 

Compost, on the other hand, can be used as a mulch material and enriches the soil with beneficial organisms and nutrients.

The only drawback is that weeds can find this environment "beneficial" too.

Get the hoe ready!    

Redwood soil conditioner enriches the soil and improves texture but does not offer the best protection against weeds unless you apply a THICK layer!

That said, redwood soil conditioner is neat looking when "clean" lines matter in your garden design.

 

Cocoa mulch can be deadly to your pets!

The ingestion of as little as 2 ounces of cocoa mulch has been implicated in severe stomach upset, and more serious illness and death at higher doses!

Dogs and cats may find the chocolate aroma irresistible and can be poisoned by the caffeine and theobromine in it.

Cocoa mulch should only be used in pet-free yards.

I found out the hard way when my dog started snacking on my cocoa mulch and threw up.

It was a lot of work to remove it from the garden and it the cocoa mulch cost more than a lot of other mulches.

The upside for "pet-free" gardens is that cocoa mulch provides great weed suppression and does not rob nitrogen from the soil to breakdown.

The downside is that your garden will be "pet-free" if your dog or cat eats the cocoa mulch!  

Shredded melaleuca makes an ideal cover under tree groves 

Is Mulch Expensive?

If you have a large garden, you may want to consider purchasing a "scoop" or "skip" of shredded redwood or cedar mulch from a landscape center and have it delivered to your house.

A bulk order will be less expensive in the long run than buying a lot of 1 or 2 cubic foot bags from the nursery.  

Stones and gravel are useful mulches for succulent and other dry gardens.

Stone and gravel are long lasting, do not break down but should be installed with a weed barrier cloth underneath to keep the gravel from sinking into the ground.    

Designer Shirley Watts uses broken mosaic as mulch.

Clever and artsy!

 

    

I use seashells as mulch in container gardens.

If you have enough to cover a garden bed, it looks beautiful in a seaside garden.  

 

Shredded wood  from construction wood pallets are a great repurposed mulch.

 

I would use shredded wood from construction pallets  in an informal garden.

There is a perfect mulch for every garden need, budget and style.

 

Don't forget to pamper your soil with plenty of organic compost before covering it up with mulch.

Refresh your mulch as needed- usually once a year.

For more gardening tips, garden design, edible gardens and "how to"  videos by Shirley Bovshow, visit EdenMakers.com 

One of the segments  included in my "10-Ways to Incorporate Art In Your Garden" presentation at the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival was on creative mulch ideas.

Gardeners  know that top dressing garden soil with mulch is an effective step in conserving soil moisture and retarding weed growth.

 

That's all good, but I also want my mulch to beautify my garden!

Here are some ideas for "out of the box" mulch ideas that put some common collectible items to work in the garden.

 

 

If you collect seashells or sea glass, take them out of that coffee can or glass jar that is sitting on your book case and use them as a decorative mulch in one of your container gardens!

Ornamental grasses become "wild dune grasses" when finished off with sea glass.

Use weed cloth between the soil and shells to keep the shells from becoming buried in the soil after watering.

 

 

Wine drinkers- re-purpose wine corks as mulch in a fragrant culinary herb garden instead of throwing them away.

"If you are going to be a lush, you might as well have a lush garden!"

Designer Peter Crompton shared this idea with me.

 

 

See your favorite vintage in this wine cork collection?

This is a great conversation starter!

 

 

 

A common jade plant looks like a horticultural sculpture in this glazed cobalt container with vivid orange tumbled glass mulch and glass rock.

Give your plant a year-round display with decorative mulches.

You can also use broken ceramic, hand painted tiles, nut shells, and other material that will not rot or break down with water.

 

Got any new ideas for me?

Share!

 

I'm busy preparing for my presentation on "Art in the Garden" for  Epcot's International Flower and Garden Festival   next week, April 4-7.

It's a big subject, but I'm narrowing it down to "functional garden art"  because I like beautiful things that serve a purpose.

 

Artistic garden furniture is a great way to infuse creativity and place your personal stamp in the garden.

 

 Here's a little preview.

I designed a custom flower arranging table with holes for flower buckets and painted it to match the "antique" potting table.

All the furniture was sealed with 3 coats of marine varnish.

 

My inspiration for the "French flower market" garden came from these French linen striped towels.

All the colors are represented in the yard.

 

An old park bench becomes garden art when it has a favorite poem verse handwritten across the back.

 

This one is in French!

I painted the bench in yellow to tie in with the other garden furniture.

If you like the look of this garden, please visit my website  at ShirleyBovshow.com  for more photos and a complete before and after chronicle of this yard makeover.

I even include  a plant list!

Get over there now!

 

Or, you can come and listen to me at the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival in Orlando Florida!

Here are some photos from the opening day at the festival.

Container gardens that catch the eye are luscious "eye candy" for the container garden enthusiast!

 

 

Orange tumbled glass adds color to my bromeliad while I wait for it to bloom!

 

 

Metal Figure Model + Common Annuals= Uncommon Combo!

 

"Sacred Succulent Gardens" 

Create your own meditation or reflection garden.

 

 

"Simply Sorbet!"

Stack shiny ceramic pots in lime green and cantaloupe.

 

 

Earthy Textures and Statuary for Your "Meditation Garden"

 

 

Zinc Planter Trio- "A Garden Within a Garden"

Stack three zinc containers, all different sizes and shapes for a self contained vignette!

 

 

The bunny figurine makes this simple planting combo special!

 

Design Tips For Container Gardens 

 

• Add statuary and garden decor in your containers to infuse a little personality or to create a mini-themed garden.

 

• Stack contrasting colored pots or pots of the same color for added dimension and drama

 

• Use colored recycled glass as a mulch for your container plants for year-round color

 

• Don't be afraid to experiment and add your personal stamp to your garden!

 

Show me your special container garden design.

One Year Later:"My, has that Santolina grown!"

I love it when functional garden structures do double duty like this bold, red, raised vegetable planter. Placed at an angle in the corner of this yard, the five-foot tall attached lattice obscures an ugly view of the nieghbors garage.

The main function of the lattice is to hold up the vining cucumbers and tall-growing tomatoes but I think the red color elevates the planter to "garden art" status with it's custom "Fresh Produce" sign. Okay, so this planter is actually doing triple duty!

 I designed this raised vegetable planter for the HGTV garden makeover show, Outer Spaces. The homeowner had vegetables planted all over the yard, but unfortunately, most of them were not thriving due to bad placement and encroachment from larger perennials.

I chose the sunniest spot in the yard, (which happened to be the least attractive area in the yard) and sited the bright red planter there. The color itself "stops" the eye from looking beyond, (thank God!)