Return to the Organic Gardening Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
Is Mulch a bad thing
| | |
Posted by
maplerbirch 4 (
My Page) on
Sun, Jul 29, 12 at 8:09
| A friend of mine has been talking to a young man that has graduated college as a Landscaper, and now my friend believes that mulch should be avoided, because of "Bugs".
This friend has used mulch for years as her parents did before her and these bugs, never were an issue that I recall.
Is there any truth to this? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Is Mulch a bad thing
| | |
| No. Which bugs? Most bugs are neither good nor bad (however you define those terms), many are flat-out good, and some are bad. Which mulch? Wood chips? Recycled rubber? Shredded leaves? It sounds like a sweeping generalization from someone who didn't listen to everything the professor said. |
RE: Is Mulch a bad thing
| | |
| no!! mulch is very beneficial. your friend is being taught/indoctrinated in correctly len |
Here is a link that might be useful: lens straw bale garden
RE: Is Mulch a bad thing
| | |
- Posted by feijoas Temperate New Zealan (My Page) on
Mon, Jul 30, 12 at 1:46
Somehow, somewhere, mulch may be a bad thing, but never in my world!
The only 'bug' I associate with mulch is slugs, and while they're a PITA, I could never imagine not mulhing because of them. |
RE: Is Mulch a bad thing
| | |
| Mulches, of vegetative waste, 1. aid in soil moisture retention, 2. aid in suppressing unwanted plant ("Weed") growth, 3. aid in keeping soil temperatures more moderate, and 4. add needed organic matter to the soil. Some people seem to think that any "bug", insect, in the garden is bad forgetting that of the some 8,000,000 insect species only abnout 8,000 are pests most pften best controlled by the predators that make up many of the other 8,000,000. Some of hte other "bugs" digest the waste we generate helping to keep us from being buried in our own waste. |
RE: Is Mulch a bad thing
| | |
| That sounds better. Thanks everyone. I was afraid that the education system was changing our gardening/landscaping practices into fearmongering. |
RE: Is Mulch a bad thing
| | |
| There are SUPPOSED to be bugs outside, they have important functions in the ecosystem, even those who's best contribution is to serve as some bird, spider, or toad's meal. I think your friend focused on some minor detail of what he/she was told without grasping the big picture. |
RE: Is Mulch a bad thing
| | |
| Sounds more like that young man earned a diploma in "LandSCRAPING", rather than landscaping. ;-) There are lots and lots of landscrapers around, sad to say. |
RE: Is Mulch a bad thing
| | |
| That's the funny thing about it. My friend isn't focussed on any detail, but simply believes what this graduate says, becuz he's from a good family and finished University with a degree. I agree that it will result in landscraping rather than landscaping. Especially, on this soil. |
RE: Is Mulch a bad thing
| | |
- Posted by jolj 7b/8a-S.C.,USA (My Page) on
Tue, Jul 31, 12 at 12:42
Yes bugs can be a problem with mulch, but not as bad as dry soil & weeds.
You can organically treat for bugs much easier then pulling weeds. We really needs more details on what the young man said.
In some cases he may be right, never one that I had encountered, but who knows, without more details |
RE: Is Mulch a bad thing
| | |
- Posted by RpR_ 3-4 (My Page) on
Tue, Jul 31, 12 at 13:03
| Now this youth isn't from the "landscaping rocks" school of thought is he? If he is, I cannot use the words to describe him on this forum. |
RE: Is Mulch a bad thing
| | |
| Here's a good Fact Sheet put out by the International Society of Arboriculture regarding some of the benefits of mulch. Though this article is focused on trees, the same principles and benefits apply to gardens. Who knows what this young man heard in class, what kind of class, and how he interpreted what he heard. A little bit of knowledge can be a most dangerous thing. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Benefits of mulch
RE: Is Mulch a bad thing
| | |
| That is a great fact sheet that says exactly what we've all been saying for most of my life. Seems likes it just common sense by this time. Not sure what "Landscaping Rocks" is all about. :) |
RE: Is Mulch a bad thing
| | |
| I suppose your friend is talking about bark mulch, which can support certain fauna, like wood lice, that *may* attack plants (although they usually don't). Thick wood mulches can also harbour rodents. Otherwise, mulches are generally beneficial. As with everything, common sense goes a long way. I never use organic mulches here for my warm season crops because they keep the soil too cool, even in at the height of summer. Plastic works much better for me. On the other hand, organic mulches work very well for potatoes, chard and other cool season crops. |
RE: Is Mulch a bad thing
| | |
| We haven't had a problem with anything being too cool this year. How is your season going in Z2? |
RE: Is Mulch a bad thing
| | |
| It never gets truly hot here. However, it has been a nice season because it hasn't dropped below 40 degrees since late May. July stayed above 50 degrees throughout, with an average high/low of 77/58. |
RE: Is Mulch a bad thing
| | |
| Sounds like you had a great July. We're the 3rd hottest July on record with 1921 being no. 1. I don't even like to see people raking dead grass off the lawns, it's so hot and dry. :) |
RE: Is Mulch a bad thing
| | |
| There is a fungus that grows in decorative wood mulch that can cause black spots on house siding, porch railings, etc. It is called Artillery Fungus. The link below says it does not harm pets...will it harm veggies and subsequently humans if used in the garden? Don't know. I do know that the only way I can get it of my railings is to use the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and lots of elbow grease. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Artillery Fungus
RE: Is Mulch a bad thing
| | |
| LKZZ....no, Artillery fungi is not harmful to anything other than the siding of our homes or the finish on our cars. |
RE: Is Mulch a bad thing
| | |
| They meant termites. You must not mulch right up on the house, keep a foot or so away. It 'may' invite termites to your foundation. Never saw it!! |
Post a Follow-Up
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in.
If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Organic Gardening Forum
Instructions
- You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
- HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
- No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.
