Mulching

Is your garden NAKED?? Cover it up with mulch! Mulch is a protective layer of material placed on top of garden soil. Mulching can protect your plants from weeds and cold weather, while holding water close to the plant. We often envision having a clean and pristine garden, but adding some helpful “junk” to your garden will actually protect it!

Putting down a thick mulch layer will help your garden in many ways, but most importantly it will protect your garden from weeds. Weeds steal precious water, nutrients, and sunlight from the plants you are trying to grow, so it is important to pull weeds or stop them from growing in the first place. A layer of mulch will block the sunlight from all plants except the ones you are trying to grow, so those pesky weeds will have a hard time growing. Mulch can also be helpful early in the growing season, by insulating the soil from the cold air at night. Throwing a pile of hay or a sheet on top of your plants at night can allow you to plant a little earlier in the year and protect your plants. The last benefit of using mulch is that it helps retain water in the soil; the soil in Red Lake can be pretty sandy, so it dries out quickly. Your plants will be much happier if there is mulch keeping them hydrated and preventing soil erosion!

There are tons of different options when it comes to choosing a type of mulch, so use what is available and affordable for you. Straw works well, but make sure there aren't seeds hiding in the straw! They will bring new weeds into your garden. Wood chips will hold water, slow weed growth, and you can sometimes get it for free; just be careful, because wood chips can also tie up soil nutrients required to decompose the wood. Cardboard and newspaper are also great options that are inexpensive, and they completely block sunlight from reaching weeds. Just make sure to place compost or rocks on top of the newspaper, so it doesn't blow away! Tarp or plastic can also be purchased to lay in your garden. However, it does not naturally break down, so you'll need to dispose of it at the end of the season, or reuse it the next year.

How and when to apply mulch

Mulch should be added to your garden as soon as there are visible, sturdy plants growing in your garden. If you are transplanting seedlings early in the spring or summer, add mulch ASAP after transplanting is finished. If you are planting by direct seed, wait for the plants to pop up before adding mulch. You don't want to block your vegetables from the sunlight!

• If using hay or wood chips, add a 4-5 inch layer between plants

• A single layer of cardboard or a double payer of newspaper will get the job done

• Keep mulch at least an inch away from the stem of your plants

• After adding mulch, water the garden to anchor the mulch down

• More mulch can be added later in the growing season, if you notice weeds popping up

Mulch can also help you overwinter many of your crops. Perennial crops like rhubarb, strawberries, tobacco, sage, and other herbs can survive even a frigid Red Lake winter, as long as they are heavily mulched in the fall with straw. This warmth will help keep them alive during their dormant winter period. Garlic and onion can be mulched, too. In the spring, you will have your plants well-marked with straw and you will see them make a comeback.

Trust us: once you start mulching your garden, you’ll never go back.