One thing that is certain across all of the homes in New South Wales that have landscaping is that they will all be maintained to different levels and in different ways. Unfortunately, some might be in a degree of disrepair due to homeowners who care little for their gardens or maintaining them. At the other end of the scale, there will be some that look like they were just completed yesterday given how well they have been looked after.
As for what is used to maintain landscaped gardens, there will be a range of products used throughout New South Wales, from synthetic and chemical fertilisers, neither of which we recommend, to organic products, which we most certainly do recommend.
Mulch, a type of organic matter, is considered by gardeners and landscaping professionals, including those at Divine Landscapes, to be the ultimate natural garden product. In this article, we will explore the reasons behind this sentiment and delve into the benefits that mulch offers for landscaped gardens throughout New South Wales.
Types Of Mulch
First, we need to look at the types of mulch that you should be able to use in your landscaping, such as the 5 organic and 3 non-organic mulches outlined below. Organic mulches are by their definition made from natural sources, which invariably tend to be plant materials. Non-organic mulches are manufactured and unlike organic mulches, these do not decompose.
5 Organic Mulch Types
- Straw Mulch: This is used in landscape gardens that have vegetable plots and bedding flowers. One attraction of straw mulch is its affordability.
- Bark Mulch: This can be purchased as nuggets, chipped, or shredded mulch which is then used for shrubs and trees.
- Grass Clippings Mulch: The grass clippings you create when mowing your lawn can be used as mulch to help vegetables grow. A caveat is to ensure there are no grass seeds within the clippings.
- Leaves Mulch: This is another low-cost mulch which is made from the leaves that fall from trees, bushes and flowers. It provides excellent levels of nutrition for flower beds.
- Compost: Although strictly speaking compost is not a mulch per se, it can do the same job and is a great way to recycle scraps of food and other items that would otherwise be thrown away.
3 Non-Organic Mulch Types
- Plastic: An example of this is landscaping fabric which can be used to preserve moisture for vegetable plots, and also curb the growth of weeds.
- Gravel: Ideal for landscaped gardens with pathways and rockeries, it is used mainly for plants that do not require much maintenance.
- Rubber: Used within landscaping projects that have fixed features such as play areas, it is a great way for rubber tyres to be recycled.
Mulch’s Role Within A Landscaped Garden
Now we know what mulches are available, it is now time to take a look at some of the ways that mulch can benefit landscaped gardens.
- Enriching The Soil: Provided a mulch has been made from organic matter, it will contain an array and an abundance of nutrients. As the mulch decomposes, those nutrients will be absorbed by the soil in a garden, enriching it, and helping to enhance its structure too, both of which are an advantage for whatever is growing in that soil.
- Suppressing Weeds: Spreading a layer of mulch across an area within your garden will help to dissuade weeds from growing there, often preventing them from germinating in the first place. Fewer weeds means more nutrients for the plants you do want to thrive.
- Retaining Moisture: Those living in New South Wales will know that temperatures can be high throughout the summer, and this is when moisture evaporation from gardens within the state is at its highest. To reduce this evaporation, and thus ensure plants in your garden receive more of it, mulch can be used as it helps to keep the soil cooler and thus keep moisture evaporation to a minimum.
