Mulch is one of a gardener’s most useful tools! This video covers why to mulch, how to mulch and my favorite natural mulches to use in the vegetable and fruit garden- as well as pros & cons of each.
Related Videos:
Natural Weed Control for Gardens: https://youtu.be/gqgJQvwy2aM
Improving Clay Soil playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4zzslvkscX0uuXNvj6qJJzFG5iQvreQE
Cover Crop in the Home Garden playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4zzslvkscX39ZhMYn3TsqP3taiLRt9JF
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00:00 Intro
00:50 Benefits of Mulch
04:16 Types of Mulch
04:32 Leaf Mulch/ Leaf Mould
08:30 Grass Clippings
10:10 Wood Chips
13:13 Hay Mulch
15:33 A Word on Cardboard
17:00 Cover Crops/Living Mulch
18:41 When NOT to use Mulch (or use carefully)
#zone6gardening #ohiogardening
33 Comments
What do you do when the voles show up?
I'm kinda poor so I got myself a cardboard shredder using receipt scanning apps. Then I brought tons and tons and tons of cardboard home from work. I work retail so I have an endless supply of it.
I recently discovered the joy of having FREE mulch, aka chopped leaves, and I'm so glad I did! My husband was skeptical. But I insisted. I covered my garlic bed with them last fall, and we covered the in-ground garden with them. My husband made two piles: one in the back of the yard next to the compost pile, and another close to the house. Very convenient. We've been adding them to the compost in layers with earthworm castings. Also, I've heard of people using the leaves for bedding for chickens and such. I first heard of this when I watched a video titled: "I prayed for fertility. God gave me leaves." It was eye-opening, and your video confirmed my choice. Thank you.
Goodmorning, what do you think about using mulch that my local landfill sells (dump truck load)? How thick of a layer do I need safely in the garden? I am curious, what does the Roman numerals mean on your wrist? Have a great day, and happy gardening?
I love watching you and I learn so much. Can I use clean animal bedding as mulch in my raised beds? Our lawn is treated chemically so I cannot use grass clippings. Thanks
I use leaves and straws in my garden thanks for sharing ❤
I'm using a mix of grass clippings and fine pine shavings for mulch this year. I added a little more blood meal when I planted hoping it would make up for any nitrogen loss from the fine pine shavings. My gardens are looking great so far even after covering them twice to prevent frost damage.
I’m curious what your thoughts are on using pine straw. I have a thickly wooded property and old pine straw is everywhere and quite easy to come by for me. Other than avoiding adding it on top of or right up against seedlings and tender plants what other things should I consider when using this free mulch I have so much of on my property? I am considering growing some alfalfa as well to cut down and use as well. I have very sandy soil and moisture just does not stay as it drains through so quickly plus it gets quite hot here in my area (zone 8b) so moisture retention is very valuable and hopefully I can also hopefully help keep the soil cool with it as well. Should I run over it with the mower to chop it up a bit and help it break down? All my pines are of the long leaf variety so the needles are suuuuper long!
Seen your video on Winter Wheat. Can you explain why we should be cutting it down when it looks like the picture you showed us. I thought we should go ahead and let the wheat keep growing until fall. Would you show us what to do and why? Thank you
Good quality content and presented very professionally.
I'm curious when using grass clippings or hay. Aren't those prone to creating more weeds through those mediums?
Hay is my choice, I have a excellent source who gives me a great deal on rolled hay that has past it's peak as animal feed, which is perfect for the garden. This is an excellent treatise on mulch. Super information that any gardener can take to the bank. by the way, I use cheap beer to help control slugs, it seems they love the beer and will die trying to get it use small bowls in problem areas, put the rims a ground level fill with beer and change the beer every few days. Try it and let me know if it helps.
As usual, Great Video Jenna!
For the last 30 years, I let the growth between rows grow, weeds, planted cover, etc, then mulch mow it down, let is sit a few days and rake it into the beds. Of course cut down any undesirables like thistle, broadleaf, etc before seed. Saves allot of labor, moving stuff around. Same with shredded leaves, dump them in the walk way with the mowed weeds/cover to rot down, then rake into row.
Wow, that was a very comprehensive "mulch" video! I haven't done the cardboard boxes because of inks and glue. I do lightly mulch direct sow seeds with shredded pine bark and they do pop through. It keeps the soil from getting hard and crusty. Thx for another excellent video!
I cringed when you just planted all those dandelions seeds
This was a master class which encouraged me to start a new gardening playlist….
masterclass gardening.
I will transfer some of my most important videos to this playlist.
Intelligence is a most beautiful virtue, Thanks for sharing!
Love your vid's kid, keep up the hard work, gardening was never easy , but very rewarding , we all were gardener's at one time until the industrial revolution, now only 1% of humanity gardens , but the future is going to change that, and it's going to be very painful for most of humanity.
Thanks. This came just in time. I've been reluctant to use grass clippings, but you've converted me.
And, oh those volcanoes. I'm tempted to push them away from trees.
How can anyone hold slugs in their bare hands 🤢
help! I direct seeded some herbs and peppers a couple of weeks ago and then my family and I found out that we have to move! My seeds haven't germinated yet. If I bring the soil with me (where I planted them) in a pot or a bed will my seeds still have a decent chance at germination? I also have some fairly well established potato plants, sweet corn and peas. Will these transplant ok? Any tips, tricks, advice would be much appreciated!
Hi Jena. I am a very beginning gardener. I live in Idaho where its recognized as zone 6b. Is it the same as zone 6 as you describe in your video?
Dandelines are needed for bees they live them. Stop thinking of them as bad.
Saw a video about Grazon in the hay that is detrimental to the garden. Have you any advice? 😊
You're smart and beautiful. Love you ❤️
I used my grass clippings last year and hardly had to weed at all. Nor did I have to water much. This year I had a few weeds appear, from the grass clipping being worn down. I've simply cut them down to the ground and added more grass clippings on top. Northwest Ohio, here. OH!
Nice sharing. Love your garden
Later season, third cutting alfalfa hay in my area is over $15 a bale. Yeah, sure, I'm going to use that on pathways.
Living with clay soil in northern Illinois, this is one of the best explanations on mulch I’ve ever watched. Thanks.
I think I realized the oak have created too acid soil for clematis. I added lime and they are springing back with great vigor.
Making nettle fertilizer for all the nitrogen loving plants. Even the nettles look bad this year from our bad weather.
We have a massive oak tree in our yard and pine needles. We rake up at least 30-40 leaf bags of it. Would these be good mulches? We don’t really have any other trees around
❤
I have never mulched before but think it might be good for my raised garden beds and container pots. I used to have my lawn treated but stopped this year. Would my grass clipping be safe to use or should I wait a couple years? Any suggestions for the container garden plants or the raised beds? I enjoy all your videos and they are relevant for me since I am in Ohio also.