Don’t even think about getting that bright red mulch when there are plenty of better, cheaper organic ingredients that you can use instead! Let me explain the natural mulch and the various materials you can use to make your garden mulch.
Mulch is a term that is often heard in the field of gardening. From controlling weeds to saving moisture, to making the top layer of our garden tasty, we use it a lot.
What many people think when imagining mulch is the classic bit of shaving or fragments of wood. It is a lovely natural cedar that often smells heaven, or… it smells heaven… dyes red.
But this is really one kind of multi. And it’s one of the more expensive things!
Today, I would like to talk about the natural mulch that can be used in our garden and why it is a much better option than what you buy from a landscape store.
Natural Multi is one of the many practices you will find in my book The Regenerative Garden. If you’re looking for more ideas on how to flip a traditional garden over your head instead of a more sustainable space, be sure to check it out!
What is Natural Multi?
The mulch sits on the soil and acts as a protective layer for organic materials. Most people think about wood when it comes to mulch, but there are many more natural materials that can be used as mulch (it’ll be in soon!).
As I said, many people use unnatural mulch such as plastic, fine tires, and dyed bark. These can leech pollutants in your garden and are not worth it if there are many other natural materials you can use as mulch.
I’m always kidding about dyed mulch. I think adding it to your garden is one of the worst things! I see it as a legitimate evil. There, it is popular and accepted, but not a good idea for the environment.
On the other hand, my method of chop and drop mulching is a good and confusing thing. Once I see the plant ingredients, I scooped it up and put it in the garden.
Some people have problems with this. I remember the real estate agent looking at all the plant materials in my last home and garden beds at first glance and suggesting to refill it with soil instead.
But I always ask, do you like the forest? Because that’s what we’re aiming for. You can have a neat and tidy look that models living rooms and natural spaces that mimic our forests.
The advantages of natural multi
Mulch has so many benefits, but many of them may not be available if you use store-bought items rather than what you already have in your garden.
Mulch is a soil insulator that works all year round. It helps to maintain more consistency in soil temperatures. This means that it helps protect the roots of plants, roots and bulbs during the winter, but keeps things cool on hot summer days.
It also helps to save moisture. This is very useful for a complete area with the sun. By preventing surface evaporation, it reduces the need to constantly add supplemental water.
If you have a weed problem, you can also apply a layer of mulch to prevent the seeds from germinating with light.
Finally, it slowly breaks down and returns nutrients to the soil. I don’t add fertilizer to my garden bed, only the mulch and compost layer feeds the soil back.
What to use as natural mulch
So, can you actually use something that works as a natural mulch from your garden? I have a lot of ideas for you and if you still want a neat and tidy look, some of these can still give you it. Try one of these 13 natural ingredients that make great mulch.
compost
Compost is the one I use most in my garden and looks like fresh, dark soil. I like to add about 2 inches of compost in the spring before the growth season begins. Spring rain also helps water microorganisms into the soil below.
Leaf shape
Leaves should not be bagged in plastic bags and sent to a dump. Instead, use partially decomposed or chopped leaf shapes as mulch. It breaks very quickly and works great in the vegetable garden.
This is best done when you can stack the dried leaves, wait a few weeks to start composting, and wait a few weeks to spread them over the garden bed and carve the mower.
Wood chips
Wood chips are very popular with those who want a neat and tidy look. Don’t buy stained ones as they are not good for your garden or soil.
Wooden chips last for multiple seasons and are often cheap and readily available when purchased from arborists and local sources. When they slowly decompose, they nourish beneficial fungi and create a strong mycelium layer.
rock
Another popular and tidy option is to use decorative rocks such as river stones, gravel and volcanic rocks. Of course, they don’t break it down. They do not add beneficial microorganisms or bacteria, but prevent water loss.
Keep in mind that it absorbs and retains heat and cold. A layer of cardboard under the rock is useful.
Pine straw/conifer needle
Take the Out Woodland Gardens page and make sure the evergreen cones and needles stay where they are falling. It can also be spread out on nearby gardening beds.
straw
Many country homes use straws, taking into account how easy it is. Avoid hay as it may contain weed seeds!
It is beneficial to apply a straw as an insulator in the fall, remove it in the spring, followed by a new layer of compost.
Hearty paper
Cardboard is free, so we love using cardboard and we all have a lot of it. Use cardboard as winter protection for rainy garden beds to prevent nutrients from leaching from the soil. Remove the spring cardboard sheet and compost.
Cardboard can be used at other times of the year. Make sure to break it into small pieces so that the soil still has airflow.
Grass cutout
If you leave a grass cutout after moving, your grass will want it. They slowly break down and create soil protection mulch that feeds grassroots. Putting your grass flowers will also help you reorganize your lawn!
Living multi
Ground covers can offer many of the same advantages as other organic materials. Low-growth perennials and native plants are plants over 12 inches. Ideally, make sure the light treads are strong enough to make sure you still have access to the plants in your garden.
Chops and drops
This is another of my favorite natural mulch methods. Every time you cut down on the plant material, it leaves it intact on the soil surface and breaks it down into place.
The heads of leaves, stems and flower are mimicking how natural soil is fertilized and nourishing the roots of their own kind. Avoid seeded plants unless you intend to grow those seeds.
snow
Many people don’t consider snow mulch, but in cold climates it is extremely useful in protecting soil temperature and plant roots. There is no need to move the snow. On snowy days, fall and sit on your garden bed.
Aquatic plants
If you have a water garden environment, you can add active or invasive aquatic plants to dry out the land. The conditions are too dry, so the soil is decomposed and protected.
seaweed
If you have a seaside garden, seaweed works well as a mulch where plants can handle salt spray and salt accumulation in the soil. Sustainably forage seaweed and take only what you need from the beach, not from the ocean. Chop it with a lawn mower or run it on a lawn mower before painting it in your garden.
They are great natural multi ideas to try! In the comments below, please let us know if you are using it in your garden or if you plan to use it.
Other ways to try regenerative gardening
With a city girl who learned to garden, it changed everything. Author, artist, master gardener. A better life through plants.
