#gardenrx #gardening #mulch #mulching

How to Make Your Own Homemade Mulch / PBS-TV’s Garden Rx shows you how to save time and money by making your own homemade mulch and how to use it.

The benefits of using mulch – conserve water, reduce insects, reduce soil compaction, and prevent weeds and soil erosion. The soil under a thick layer of mulch in the summer will be around 85 degrees, whereas bare ground will be around 120 degrees.

Use a weed-wacker in a trash can half full of leaves to make a great mulch.

How to place mulch around your plants. There’s a right way and a wrong way.

For woody plants – a three inch layer is usual. Keep mulch two to three inches away from the trunk to keep mice from chewing on the bark and prevent rot.

For shallow rooted plants like azaleas – put on a thin layer.

For annuals and perennials use a mulch that break down in one season like leaf mulch, straw, and grass mulch. This lets you dig up and turn the soil without worrying about it not being broken down. Leaf mulch and grass mulch can compact down, so fluff it up periodically.

Compost the perfect mulch. Use 5 inches in garden beds.

Easy tip for apply mulch around young plants. Take garden pots and place on top of the plant. Now spread the mulch. When you are finished remove the pots. Perfectly placed mulch.

Remove Sharpie and Shoe Scuff Marks from the Floor. Sharpies are permanent markers, don’t believe it, we’ll show you how to remove Sharpie and scuff marks easy.