What do I need to know about mulch?
I have premium brown mulch that I want to put on the soil below my tomatoes, any tips, ideas or anything I need to know before I do it?
Edit: Do I need to replace it after a period of time? Does it get diseases of fungi or stuff that can be harmful to my plants?
I added that it's brown mulch, does that work on tomato plants, and my vegetable bed.
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Mo
I assume this is wood mulch and not rubber mulch because rubber mulch should never touch the plant or leaves.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/mulch-for-tomatoes.htm
https://mrtreeservices.com/blog/can-you-use-fresh-wood-chips-as-mulch/
I line my beds with newspaper then put the mulch on top. The newspaper is biodegradable and keeps out weeds.
Make sure your don't put mulch up to the base of the tree or plant.
It is a good idea to put landscaping fabric or newspapers down before you put your mulch down. The fabric or newspaper will help prevent weeds. You will need to replace the mulch every few months or yearly. It tends to decompose or something - you will notice that it seems to disappear. In that way, mulch can be costly, since you have to frequently add more.
This video explains some of the basics about mulching, and about why it's not good to put a lot of mulch around a tree (it can harbor insects that harm the tree and can promote rot): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hbcifblzUY
I don't use mulch at all in my vegetable garden, Mo, simply because I don't know what chemicals it has been treated with.
Hello Mo,
It will help to keep the weeds at bay and help retain the water a little longer. No problems, just put it on, It will eventually root into the soil. Hope you get bigger tomatoes now!
https://www.hometalk.com/diy/grow/to-mulch-or-not-to-mulch-my-gardening-dilemma-42059550
To Mulch or Not to Mulch? That is the Great Gardening Question!
Hi Mo, here's a little piece on mulching, hope it helps you out!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hbcifblzUY
If you are concern (and we should be) with chemicals, fresh mulch from trees is not the same as chemically treated and dyed mulch for the big box stores. Ist, the dyed can be poisonous to dogs the chew on it and second the chemicals leech into the ground and are absorbed by the tomatoes thru the roots. Instead next year mound your soil up in rows for the plants about 6" higher in rows. Cover with weed barrier in strips. Cut an X with scissors where you want the plant to be and plant in the X. Keeps moisture in, weeds down to a bare minimum.
I always put mulch down, it helps with weeds and moisture. I would put about an inch down and don't put it around the roots, leave a little room. I would replace it every few years. We usually just put new mulch down and haven't been as good about replacing it and ours has been ok. We haven't had any problems with fungi.