There are three basic ways to mulch your flower garden; with organic mulch that breaks down quickly, slower-decaying organic mulch, or inorganic mulch. There are different relative values to these types of mulches, and the one that you pick for your garden is going to be determined by what you really want to accomplish. Do you want items that will break down and feed the soil? Mulch that looks pretty? Fire resistant? What about resistance to wind and compaction? Do you want one that is weed and disease free? Depending on your answers, you'll want different mulches.
Organic Mulch That Breaks Down Quickly
These take a season or less to break down, and are good as a first mulch for flower gardens and around newly planted items. They can improve soil structure and organic content, as well as can be plowed or spaded under.
Hay
Hay has a good resistance to compaction and wind. It also has a fair attractiveness, available, and has a fair rating as a source of weeds and disease. It is a fire hazard.
Corn Stalks
Corn Stalks have an excellent resistance to compaction and a good resistance to wind. It has an unsatisfactory attractiveness, a fair availability, and has an excellent rating as a source of weeds and disease. It is a fire hazard.
Compost
Compost has a good resistance to compaction and an excellent resistance to wind. It has a good attractiveness, an excellent availability, and has a fair rating as a source of weeds and disease. It is not a fire hazard.
Rice Hulls
Rice Hulls have a good resistance to compaction and a poor resistance to wind. It has a fair attractiveness, a poor availability, and has a fair rating as a source of weeds and disease. It is not a fire hazard.
Straw
Straw has an excellent resistance to compaction and a poor resistance to wind. It has a poor attractiveness, a good availability, and has a poor rating as a source of weeds and disease. It is a fire hazard.
Waste Paper
Waste Paper has a fair resistance to compaction and an unsatisfactory resistance to wind. It has an unsatisfactory attractiveness, an excellent availability, and has an excellent rating as a source of weeds and disease. It is a fire hazard.
Lawn Clippings
Lawn Clippings have a poor resistance to compaction and a good resistance to wind. It has a poor attractiveness, an excellent availability, and has a fair rating as a source of weeds and disease. It is not a fire hazard.
Leaves
Leaves have an unsatisfactory resistance to compaction and a poor resistance to wind. It has a good attractiveness, an excellent availability, and has a good rating as a source of weed and disease. It is a fire hazard.
Leaf Mold
Leaf Mold has a good resistance to compaction and an excellent resistance to wind. It has a good attractiveness, an excellent availability, and has a fair rating as a source of weeds and disease. It is not a fire hazard.
Well-Rotted Manure
Well-Rotted Manure has a good resistance to compaction and an excellent resistance to wind. It has a good attractiveness, a fair availability, and has an unsatisfactory rating as a source of weeds or disease. It is not a fire hazard.
Peat Moss
Peat Moss has a good resistance to compaction and an excellent resistance to wind. It has an excellent attractiveness, an excellent availability, and has a good rating as a source of weeds and disease. It is not a fire hazard.
Choosing which of these organic mulches is right for you depends on your current gardening situation.
For More On This Topic:
Inorganic Mulches For Your Flower Garden
Organic Mulches For Your Flower Garden That Break Down Slowly
Source:
University of Missouri Extension: Mulches
Tina Samuels - Tina Samuels specializes in health, animal, and gardening articles. She authored "A Georgia Native Plant Guide".
