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Mulch is a material that gardeners place over the surface of the soil to help in maintain moisture. Also using the right kind of mulch in a garden can help to improve the condition of the soil as well. In this article we explain a little bit more about the kinds of mulch, Wilmington gardens should be using.

Of all the things that a gardener can do in their garden, laying down some mulch on soil which is exposed to the elements ensures that the plants will remain healthy. This type of material is actually very effective if the correct amount is laid down at preventing moisture loss from the soil.

As well as preventing moisture from escaping from the soil this material when used can prevent the growth of weeds. But the mulch needs to be applied to the soils surface correctly if it is truly to be affective. If you lay too much or lay the wrong type of mulch you may end up causing more harm to your plants than you thought possible.

Most gardeners when selecting mulch for their garden will use those that have been made from straw, leaves, sawdust or bark. But as you lay it remember that you should not allow it to come up into close contact with the plants it is being placed around. A gap around the plants should be left so that the soil around the plants roots is able to get sufficient amounts of water, nutrients and oxygen to help them grow.

Also the kind of material you use should of be of a high quality as the wrong sort of a badly prepared mulch can prove to be harmful to plants. Sour mulch as it is known is fully of toxic waste and this could actually result in your plants dying rather than thriving.

Actually how much mulch you lay in your Wilmington garden will depend on the material it is made from and the kind of soil you have in your garden. If the soil in your garden is very sandy then you need to lay several inches (between 3 and 4) on the surface. This will actually then help the soil to retain any moisture far better than if you were to just to put down a couple of inches.

There are plenty of ready prepared mulch materials which you can get from your local garden center or nursery. However, if you want to save money then why not make your own instead. Grass clippings are a great mulch material although best used on vegetable rather than flower gardens as they can look somewhat messy once laid. But they are free and can be collected and then used every time you mow the lawn.

If you have an organic garden then you should only be using an organic variety of mulch on it. Most organic mulch, Wilmington gardeners select to use has either been made from the own garden clippings or from trees that have been shredded. Actually making your own can prove much more cost effective than buying the bags from the local nursery or garden center. This kind of mulch also is worth getting for a normal garden as it can enrich the soil underneath as well.