In Praise of Mulch

Here is a pic that shows what mulch can do. This row of cabbage and broccoli has been weeded once since I planted. The benefits of good mulch go way beyond fewer weeds. Continuous cover preservers and protects your soil from erosion, both from wind and rain. It limits water loss from evaporation, very important in a drought year like this. If it is organic it improves the tilth of the soil and adds valuable nutrients as it decomposes. You can walk in your garden soon after a rain and not get muddy feet! And, as you crawl down that row of green beans, harvesting the bounty, you will be on nice soft mulch.
  There are disadvantages with mulch too of course. In a wet year, mulch will harbor slugs. You can trap and remove them by placing old wooden boards on the soil. The slugs hide there during the day and you can then remove them from your garden. You can also drown them in nearly empty beer cans set almost flush with the soil. The beer attracts them. Another problem can be introducing weed seeds to your garden from the mulch. I  use well rotted hay or let piles of grass, cut green ,heat up to destroy weed seeds before applying it to the garden. Mulch can tie up nitrogen in the process of decomposing but I view that as a benefit  since I normally have plenty of nitrogen and this keeps it from being lost. It is available to the plants after the mulch has broken down sufficiently. For mulch to be an effective weed barrier it must be THICK. I view 3-4 inches as the very minimum and try for 6 inches. Long hay that is not well rotted will be a problem if you rototill your garden.  I prefer chopped mulch as it makes a denser cover and will still till under easily. It is organic, it is sustainable, and I like it.