You’re probably aware by now that mulch has many beneficial qualities; heaven knows, we’ve sung its praises often enough! Mulch is nothing less than one of the organic gardener’s “greatest allies,” as one publication puts it. Properly applied, mulch discourages weed growth, prevents soil erosion, enriches the soil, helps retain moisture, and in some cases (depending on the material used) can discourage insect attacks. And did you know that the mulch spread around tree trunks offers a protective barrier as well? It makes the trunk less likely to be damaged by your lawnmower, if nothing else.
That said, mulch can be bad news if handled or applied incorrectly. You should never pile it right against the base of a tree or the stem of a plant, as it can promote disease and provide a haven for bugs. Plus, you should never layer it more than 3-4 inches deep, or it’ll prevent rain from reaching your plant roots and will interfere with oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange.
Also, you can’t use just anything for mulch; some materials contain natural toxins that are dangerous to other plants, so you should never mulch with them without running them through the compost pile first. Some examples of these include chips or bark from acacia, California bay, camphor, cypress, eucalyptus, madrone, oak, pine, pittosporum, red cedar, and walnut.
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