Still weeding and watering? Here are tips for spreading mulch to deal with both issues

By this time of year, it’s important for vegetable gardeners to continue to harvest tomatoes, cucumbers and zucchini to keep the produce coming.

Dead head faded blooms on roses and other perennials to encourage more blooms, and fertilize annuals and plants in containers as they use up nutrients.

August is the month when the rewards of a good mulch are being reaped. If you took the time to cover your soil with a mulch earlier in the year then your summer garden will need less weeding and watering.

But you can mulch anytime of the year, so if you want to cut back on future maintenance, consider your options of materials to use for mulching.

Q. What is a mulch?

A. A mulch is just a covering for bare soil. In our area, bark chips are the most common mulch and is most often used around trees and shrubs to keep down weeds and conserve moisture. Gravel and stones, sawdust, compost, chopped leaves, straw and composted dairy manures are other examples of mulching materials.

Q. How deep do you need to spread a mulch?

A. Depending on the material used, you’ll want to spread a weed blocking mulch like wood chips, bark or dairy manure 2 to 4 inches deep. Do not pile any mulch up around the trunks of trees or shrubs. Trunks can rot with mulch touching the bark. Use a thinner layer of mulch about an inch deep next to the stem of plants then feather the amount deeper as you work your way away from the plants.

Tip: Use a layer of newspapers (5 to 7 pages thick) right on top of small weeds then pile the mulch on top of the newspaper. With no sunlight, the weeds will die and both the dead weeds and the decaying newspaper will return organic matter to the soil.

Q. What is a good mulch for edible gardens?

A. Composted dairy manure from an organic dairy farm (sold as “Super Doo” in our area from HyGrass farms) is a safe, weed-free mulch that will improve your soil as it blocks weeds. You can purchase in bulk or bags from local nurseries or have a load delivered.

Q. Why is dairy manure better than steer or horse manure?

A. Cows have more stomachs than horses so they break down weed seeds. Also horses are often wormed and the deworming medication goes right into their manure. (Worms may be bad for horses but are good for the soil.)

Steer manure from feed lots can have traces of the many antibiotics and hormones given to beef cattle. Local, composted dairy manure from an organic farm is the safe choice to use on all edible gardens.

Q. Can dairy manure be used on lawns?

A. Yes, composted dairy manure is weed free and acts as an organic lawn food when spread directly on top of a lawn. You can also make and use your own compost to spread as a feeding mulch on top of lawns. You will need to screen your own compost to remove large lumps before applying it to the lawn.

Q. What is the best mulch for blocking weeds in a shrub area?

A. Bark or wood chips block weeds the best. The more course or chunky the mulch and the deeper you apply it, the fewer weeds you will have. Remember to layer newspaper on top of the small weeds and place the mulch on top for superior weed control.

Q. What about landscape fabric or plastic under bark?

A. Just say no to landscape fabric or plastic barriers. These products block air and water and can actually encourage certain weeds.

Marianne Binetti is the author of “Easy Answers for Great Gardens” and eight other gardening books. She has a degree in horticulture from Washington State University and will answer questions from her website at www.binettigarden.com.