 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
||
 |
|
||
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
||
 |
|
||
 |
|
||
 |
|
||
 |
|
||
 |
|
||
 |
|
||
 |
|
||
 |
|
||
 |
|
||
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
||
|
Why use mulch? Using an organic mulch such as wood chips around trees and in shrub beds will provide several benefits. A four inch layer of mulch under trees and around shrubs and perennials goes a long way to keep plants alive and healthy. Mulch helps to regulate soil temperature resulting in less stress on plants between hot, dry summer days and freezing winter nights. Mulch allows for less and easier weeding of beds. Organic mulches, as they gradually break down, add nutrients to the soil. Mulching around the base of trees also keeps the lawn mower and weed eater from damaging the bark of trees. Most importantly, mulching reduces water usage. A mulched area under low-water-use trees with dryland shrubs or perennials can reduce water usage by as much as 50 percent from the water needed to maintain a bluegrass lawn. Mulching mature trees to their drip line is beneficial as well. For a larger-sized tree this may extend a mulch circle outward from the trunk 20 feet or more, greatly reducing the amount of lawn. Having mulch to that point helps retain moisture in the root area. What are some guidelines for applying mulch? Weed the area to be mulched before applying the mulch. Mulch can be spread around any plant as far as the distance of its outmost branching (this is called the drip line) or it can cover an entire garden bed. Mulch can be spread thickly if water is able to penetrate and if it does not smother the roots of the plant being mulched. Three inches of mulch is safe for any woody plant, and up to eight inches can be used for large trees. Thick mulches are harmful to shallow-rooted plants such as rhododendrons and azaleas. For any woody plant, apply mulch starting 3 to 4 inches away from the trunk to prevent mice from eating the bark. How is poor quality material disguised? A few tactics employed to disguise unwanted mulch include:
Should I be Concerned if my Mulch is from Recycled Wood? Purchasing clean recycled wood from species that are friendly to flowers and trees is not a bad practice. The problem comes from mulch made of ground pallets and packing material that hauled such things as pesticides, industrial metals, machinery leaking oil, and industrial additives. A common practice is to hide recycled material by dying the wood. Most of this material could not be sold if dye was not added. Ground up pallets are not appealing to most people. No law requires mulch manufactures to identify recycled material. Some manufacturers use recycled material to reduce the cost. If a manufacturer is paid to take material such as ground up demolition material, it reduces the cost of production. In fact, the harder it is to dispose of contaminated wood, the more the owner has to pay for disposal. The more a mulch manufacturer is paid to take wood, the cheaper they can sell the mulch. This makes those mulch manufacturers more competitive when bidding on large contracts that are decided by price. Those retailers using price as the main criteria for selecting suppliers are the most vulnerable to contaminated material. What's the difference between "organic" mulch and "organically produced" mulch? An organic mulch is simply one that is made from plant materials, such as wood, compost, straw or leaves. Unlike plastic, rock or shredded tires, it will break down to provide nutrients and improve soil. A mulch has only been "organically produced" if the company that made it meets standards like those that govern organic food producers. It cannot contain pesticides or herbicides. How Do I Tell if My Mulch is Short Packed? Short packing, or putting less mulch in the bag than is stated on the label, is a very common practice with some manufacturers because it reduces cost and helps sell on price. Mulch, by law, is sold on volume, which has to be stated on the bag. The bag must state the volume of the contents, not just the size of the empty bag. You can check the contents of a bag by making a one foot by one foot by one foot box and dumping the mulch in. This is one cubic foot. If the bag says two cubic feet, the box will have to be filled two complete times. Who Enforces the Measurement of Mulch in Missouri? The Department of Agriculture, Division of Weights and Measures, is the regulating agency. http://www.mda.mo.gov/consumer/protect.htm For more information on mulch regulations, contact Steve Gill, program administrator, at stevegill@mda.mo.gov |