Gardening is making a comeback with many families due to the high costs of produce at the grocery store. mulchOne important aspect of gardening that helps ensure nutrients and moisture to the plants is through mulching. Mulch has many benefits for a garden, even in flower beds.  Here are some of the advantages of mulching your gardens.

  • Adding a thick layer of mulch around plants helps to keep in moisture and prevent the roots from drying out.
  • Mulch can also help to regulate temperatures and exposure to the weather. This may help to increase the growing season of the plants.
  • Mulch helps to protect the erosion of the soil from the natural elements of wind and rain.
  • Mulch provides addition nutrition to the soil and the plants themselves.
  • Mulch can help control the growth of weeds and other vegetation such as grass in order to create a new garden area.

While many home improvement and garden stores sell mulch by the bag, there are alternatives to the product that are extremely cheap if not free. Your mulch does not have to come from the store in order to be effective. Here are two inexpensive examples of how to get free mulch.

Chipped Wood – Many community workers must trim and maintain trees that hang near roadways and such. Often the workers will put the cut trees into a wood chipper and the remaining product makes an excellent mulch for the garden, as well as attractive material for decorating and landscaping purposes.

Leaves - Many people experience the fall of leaves during the autumn season and their only concern is raking and bagging the leaves to keep the lawn looking clean. However, leaves are an excellent material for mulch. The provide plenty of nutrients back into the soil and are free. Even if there are no trees in your own yard, chances are someone on the block will have a bag of leaves to dispose of and would be more than happy to share.

Hay – Consumers who live in or near a rural community can most likely find a farmer who sells hay for a small cost. Hay that has gone bad and can not be fed to cattle and other livestock can be turned into a very effective mulch. Negotiate with a farmer to buy any of his spoiled bales and use them in your garden.