Step 3: Cover it With Mulch
Ideas
Soil loves mulch. It provides moisture between irrigation cycles, protects
it from evaporation on a sunny day, and reduces runoff and erosion when
it rains. Like compost, it also helps to control weeds, aids water infiltration
and releases organic matter into the soil, providing nutrients that stimulate
plant growth.
Shredded Mulch
Mulch made from composted landscape trimmings is best for your soil.
It contains leaf material that adds nutrients and branch material that
adds texture and longevity. Shredded mulch also has a fibrous texture that
helps it hold onto hillsides and not slide off. Since it's recycled, and it keeps
material out of the landfill, it's also the best choice for the environment.
It's less expensive than other options and is available at municipal compost
facilities like Miramar Greenery and the El Corazon Compost Facility.
$12-$18 per cubic yard in bulk
Leaf Mulch
Collect the fallen leaves on your property and use them as mulch or add
them to your compost pile. Want more? Ask your neighbors.
Bark and Wood Chip Mulch
While we are accustomed to bark and wood chip mulch and like the way
it looks, it has a number of downsides: bark and wood chips release little
organic matter into the soil, do not improve soil aggregation, don't stay
in place on a hillside, and compete with plants for the nitrogen in your
soil. Landscape contractors typically add nitrogen fertilizer when a client
requests bark, adding to stormwater pollution.
Hay and Grass Clippings
Hay and grass are high in nitrogen so they do not compete with plants
for the nitrogen in your soil. Hay works as mulch, but is more effective as
compost. Grasscycling, leaving grass clippings on your lawn, reduces the
amount of fertilizer a lawn needs by 50 percent.
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