There are many elements in consideration when you are finding the right mulch for your garden landscape.   The argument can be understood by showing to you the standards of the different garden mulches. 

 Before beginning, let’s look at a preliminary question that many Calgary Garden landscapes Consultant have:   Does mulch covering affect soil pH at all?   More particularly, would the soil pH of your garden be diminished to some extent when you apply mulch? 

 The soil pH composition has a big contribution on the stamina of your shrubs.   Many people have apprehensions, as I have, on how garden mulch selection impacts soil pH, since it really affects the loam when it decays.  Does your soil turn acidic if you use garden mulch covering with pine needles?  What about garden mulch composed of oak leaves?  

 The most widely held view at present seems to be that garden mulch has little impact on soil pH.   For example, while oak leaves in your mulch may be acidic when it is fresh, it now turns to become alkaline when it breaks down.   Moreover, based on what I’ve read, it is now believed pine that needles making up a garden mulch reduces the soil pH to inconsequential levels, if ever. 

 With the question of the potential impact of garden mulch on soil pH out of the way, let’s reflect on some other issues surrounding garden mulch selection — some of which are quantifiable, others of which boil down to personal Gardening Calgary Landscaping company preferences.   Since a garden mulch can rate higher in one class only to perform poorly in another, we would then have to make a decision.   Two recognizable applications of garden mulch on which you will find to have not been taken up are erosion control and weed suppression.   They have been excluded for a sole reason: a garden mulch applied well mow down weeds and erosion at the same time. 

 These are the three constants in this discussion. 

    *  ”Insulation value in summer” is judged by the degree to which the garden mulch can keep the soil beneath cool and moist.   A favorable summer insulator will both minimize your watering needs and at the same time defends the roots against intense heat. 

    *  The problem of whether or not clearing away the garden mulch  in spring depends on the fact that abundant garden mulches can suffocate developing spring buds.   Apparently, this is not a factor for lively plants above the ground.  But even the latter can profit from having the soil around their roots warmed by the spring sun, a process facilitated by the temporary removal of the garden mulch.  With regards to plastic sheet mulch from Algae Control Ponds Supply Store, this factor is non-relevant since the material have holes that gives access to the plants. 

    *  ”Nourishment and aeration afforded to underlying soil by decomposition” is one of the criteria used in the following pages to compare the various landscape mulches.   Nonetheless do not be mislead by the “nourishment” word, thinking that compost and garden mulch are interchangeable. 

I have been a Calgary Landscaping Contractor for many years. We specialize in Calgary Gardens and Calgary Landscape Design.  These techniques work anywhere in the world as well as in my area.

Written by: Custom Stone and Waterscapes ‎3829 Parkhill Place SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2W6 (403) 870-1142 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (403) 870-1142