The third mistake we can make in gardening is too much mulch, according to this author thru gardening.about.com. Mulch does many wonderful things in the garden, but once again, it can be too much of a good thing. Two - 4 inches of mulch will keep the soil cool, conserve moisture and help suppress weeds. More than that and you’re asking for trouble. Too much mulch can prevent water and air from getting to the soil. Water tends to drain off before it reaches the soil surface, let alone the plant roots and as I mentioned above, roots need air, too. A heavy layer of mulch blocks air flow and can also compact the soil.
This is a common mistake that I notice around trees. Mounding mulch too close to a plant’s stem or a tree’s trunk is another common mistake. This is a common practice of public landscapers. It even has a name - mulch volcanos. Besides leading to the two problems listed above, mulch volcanos offer safe harbor to insects and they hold moisture next to the stem or trunk, with can lead to rotting or fungal diseases. Always keep mulch an inch or more away from the actual plant.
Death by mulch is usually a slower process than over watering, but if you think you’re doing everything else right and your plants still aren’t happy, check your mulch depth. Rake it out and make sure water is able to sink through and get where it needs to go. Every plant is different. Every garden is different. The best way to care for your plants is to keep a close eye on them and catch problems early. Luckily that just means walking or working in your garden regularly, something we already do.
Taken from http://gardening.about.com/od/gardenproblems/fl/How-to-Kill-Your-Plants.htm?utm_content=7337008&utm_medium=email&utm_source=cn_nl&utm_campaign=gardening&utm_term=
Till next time this is Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa
This is a common mistake that I notice around trees. Mounding mulch too close to a plant’s stem or a tree’s trunk is another common mistake. This is a common practice of public landscapers. It even has a name - mulch volcanos. Besides leading to the two problems listed above, mulch volcanos offer safe harbor to insects and they hold moisture next to the stem or trunk, with can lead to rotting or fungal diseases. Always keep mulch an inch or more away from the actual plant.
Death by mulch is usually a slower process than over watering, but if you think you’re doing everything else right and your plants still aren’t happy, check your mulch depth. Rake it out and make sure water is able to sink through and get where it needs to go. Every plant is different. Every garden is different. The best way to care for your plants is to keep a close eye on them and catch problems early. Luckily that just means walking or working in your garden regularly, something we already do.
Taken from http://gardening.about.com/od/gardenproblems/fl/How-to-Kill-Your-Plants.htm?utm_content=7337008&utm_medium=email&utm_source=cn_nl&utm_campaign=gardening&utm_term=
Till next time this is Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa
