Follow these top mulching tips to keep your garden lush and healthy in Long Green.
While most of us are stuck inside at the moment, spring is here in full force. Marylanders face the potential for an unusual May freeze this weekend, naturally, after weeks of generally mild temperatures. Maryland is known for many things, but consistent weather is not one of them. One way that gardeners in Long Green and elsewhere can help shield their plants from the extreme weather conditions that Maryland has to offer is by mulching. Follow these top mulching tips to keep your garden lush in Long Green.
Apply a Layer of Nutrients Before Mulching
One mistake that many home gardeners make when mulching is not applying a layer of fertilizer or compost first. While wood mulches (like those available for delivery from Lehnhoff’s Supply) do break down and release nutrients over time, this can be a very slow process. Spreading a layer of compost on your soil before applying mulch can help deliver more readily-available nutrients to your plants during the growing season when they need them most.
Use the Right Material for Mulching
There are plenty of materials available for weed, temperature, and pest control, but choosing the right one is critical to your garden’s success. Although cut grass and fallen leaves can be used as mulch in some cases, they must be aged prior to application. Some suggest aging leaves for at least nine months to prevent inhibited growth for your plants, and fresh trimmings can be the perfect breeding ground for harmful molds. Shredded wood mulches are a popular choice for home gardeners who want an aesthetically-pleasing cover that decomposes slowly.
Keep Mulch Away From Delicate Plant Stems
Finally, apply mulch with the proper amount of space around your plants. Tender fruit and vegetable plants can be susceptible to fungus and pests, so keep an area of a few inches between the mulch and any delicate plant stems. When mulching around trees, avoid making a “volcano” of material around the base. A thick layer of mulch around the base of your tree trunks can do more harm than good, blocking oxygen and water from reaching the roots and causing the bark to decay.
Questions? Lehnhoff’s Supply is Here to Help
If you still have more questions about how to best prepare your landscape or garden for summer and fall, the trained professionals at Lehnhoff’s Supply are here to help you. Find us at 2708 Belair Road, Fallston, MD 21047 and give us a call at 410-510-7646. For tips, tricks, and to see what we have been up to, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
We serve but aren’t limited to, the following parts of Maryland: Harford County – Fallston, Forest Hill, Joppa, Edgewood, Bel Air, Churchville, Havre de Grace, Jarrettsville, Street, Aberdeen, Abingdon, and Joppatowne.
In Baltimore County: Kingsville, Perry Hall, Overlea, Fullerton, Nottingham, Parkville, Towson, Carney, Loch Raven, Lutherville, Timonium, Hunt Valley, Cockeysville, Sparks, Glyndon, Pikesville, Reisterstown, Ruxton, Parkton, Glen Arm, Baldwin, Monkton, Long Green, White Marsh, Rosedale, Phoenix, and Fork.
