Mulch Gardening: the secret to fertile soil and abundant harvests 🤫 Less Work!
Imagine your garden… But don’t think of the endless weeding, the bending over in the scorching sun or the potting soil. Imagine a garden where your plants are lush and green, the soil stays soft and moist in the hottest weather, and the weeds almost disappear on their own. Where back-breaking digging is a thing of the past and you have more time to enjoy the fruits of your labour than to toil for them.
Too good to be true? But it’s not! This is the reality of mulch gardening.
This is not a new-age fad, but the application of thousands of years of nature’s wisdom to our own gardens. The bio-intensive approach is based on working in harmony with nature, not against it. Observe the forest: the ground, covered with leaf litter, is always loose, moist and full of life. Nature never leaves the earth bare. Why should we?
In this comprehensive guide, we show you how mulching can change the way you garden forever. We’ll explore the amazing benefits of mulch, introduce you to the different types, and take you step-by-step through the process of applying it correctly. Get ready, because your garden and your waistline will thank you for it!
What is Mulcs and Why Revolutionary in the Garden? 🤔
Mulch is, very simply, any material used to cover the surface of the soil. It can be organic, like straw or compost, or inorganic, like gravel or cardboard. Its purpose is to form a protective layer between the soil and the elements – sun, wind, torrential rain.
Mulch gardening is really about protecting the “skin” of the soil. A bare soil surface exposed to the sun quickly dries out and hardens, killing the beneficial micro-organisms that live in it and allowing weed seeds to flourish. In contrast, mulched soil becomes a living, breathing medium that feeds your plants and does the work for you. This method is the soul and foundation of no-dig gardening.
7 Amazing Benefits of Mulching in the Biointensive Garden 🌱
Mulching not only solves a single problem, it starts a positive chain reaction in your garden’s ecosystem. Let’s see the main benefits!
- 🚫 Less weeding: a layer of mulch prevents light from reaching the weed seeds hiding in the soil, so they can’t germinate. The few weeds that do break through will be so weak-rooted in the loose medium that they can be removed in one easy, effortless movement.
- 💧 Dramatic Water Retention: mulch acts like a sponge. It absorbs morning dew and rainwater, then slowly releases it into the soil. In the process, it prevents evaporation, so you can reduce the amount of water and time you spend watering by up to 50-70%!
- 🌡️ Perfect Temperature Control: in summer, mulch keeps the soil cool, protecting plant roots from overheating. In spring and autumn, it helps keep the soil warm, extending the gardening season.
- 🐛 Revitalising the soil life: this is the most important goal of the biointensive gardener! Underneath the organic mulch layer, millions of worms, beetles and microorganisms find a home and food. They work tirelessly, loosening and fertilizing the soil, creating the dark, friable humus in which plants thrive.
- 🥗 Continuous Nutrient Replenishment: as organic mulches (compost, straw, grass clippings) slowly decompose, they continue to add valuable nutrients to the soil. This is a natural, slow-release fertilizer that feeds plants at exactly the rate that works best for them.
- 🧱Soil Structure Protection: mulch protects the soil from the compacting effect of heavy rains and wind erosion. It prevents the soil from “crusting” so that water and air can always easily reach the roots.
- 🍓 Cleaner Crops and Less Disease: the mulch layer prevents dripping mud from contaminating low-lying crops (such as strawberries or courgettes), reducing the chance of soil-borne fungal diseases (e.g. tomato blight).
Types of mulches: which to use and when?
The choice of the right mulch depends on the purpose and the materials available. Two main groups are distinguished:
🌿 Organic Mulches (Living Builders of Soil)
These natural materials are biodegradable, so they not only cover but also actively improve the soil.
- Mature Compost: 🏆 The king of mulches! The king of compost, the most nutrient-rich, full of beneficial microbes. Ideal for all vegetable crops. Spread 2-5 cm thick in beds at the beginning of the season.
- Straw: An excellent choice for the vegetable garden, especially under potatoes, pumpkins and strawberries. It is well ventilated, reflects light (keeps the soil cool) and keeps the crop clean underneath. Warning: use only chemical-free straw!
- Bark / Wood chips: Durable, slowly decomposing mulch. Most suitable around perennials, shrubs, trees and garden paths. Use with caution in vegetable beds, as fresh chips remove nitrogen from the soil as they decompose.
- Leaves / Avar: 🍂 The gold of autumn! Free, nutrient-rich and perfectly mimicking forest soil. Leave it under the trees or collect and spread it in your kitchen garden. Best if you shred it with a lawnmower beforehand.
- Grass clippings: also free and rich in nitrogen. It is important to spread it only in a thin layer (1-2 cm) and let it dry a little, otherwise it may rot. You can also mix it with straw.
- Green manure (living mulch): certain plants, such as facelia (honeysuckle), mustard or testicles, cover the soil densely when sown and then, when cut and left in place before flowering, act as a green mulch, full of nutrients.
⚫ Inorganic Mulches (Special Tasks)
These substances do not break down, so they do not nourish the soil, but they can be very useful in certain situations.
- Cardboard / Newsprint: perfect for creating a new bed without digging. Lay it directly on the lawn (choose one without paint or glue), then top with compost and organic mulch. The cardboard will degrade over time and the lawn will die underneath.
- Agro-fabric (geotextile): suitable for long-term weed control, for example in strawberry or strawberry plantations. It allows water and air to pass through, but not light.
- Gravel / Gravel aggregate: Best suited for ornamental gardens, rock gardens or Mediterranean-style areas where good drainage and heat retention are the goals.
Mulch Gardening in Practice: Step by Step Guide 🛠️
- Preparation: the first and most important thing is to weed the bed thoroughly before spreading the mulch. If you’re making a no-dig bed, this step can be skipped – you can go ahead and put the cardboard on the lawn!
- Choosing the Right Mulch: Use the list above to choose the mulch that best suits your plants and your goals. In general, compost and straw are the best combination for your vegetable garden.
- The Art of Spreading: spread the mulch evenly over the soil in 5-10 cm thick layers. Very important: always leave a 2-3 cm radius of “aeration” around the stems of the plants to prevent the stems from rotting under the wet mulch.
- Watering: water the area thoroughly after mulching. This helps the mulch to “settle” and activates soil life. Always water through the mulch layer afterwards.
- Maintenance: organic mulches decompose over time and become part of the soil. This is a good thing! Replenish the layer 1-2 times a year (spring and/or fall) to keep the thickness ideal.
Best Mulches for Different Plants (Table)
| Plant type | Recommended Mulcs Types | Why is it good for him? (Tips) |
| Tomatoes, Peppers | Mature compost, straw, grass clippings | Protects against condensation, which spreads fungal diseases. Provides a consistent water supply. |
| Cabbages | Mature compost, straw | It helps keep the soil cool and moist, which these plants particularly like. |
| Cucurbits, Cucumber | Straw, straw | It provides a clean and dry surface for large leaves and crops, reducing the chance of rot. |
| Strawberries, Strawberries | Straw, pine needles (slightly acidifying) | It protects the fruit from mud and slugs. Straw is called “straw” in English – hence the name of the strawberry, “strawberry”. |
| Potatoes | Thick straw layer | The “straw potato” is a separate technique. The tubers are placed on the surface of the soil and covered thickly with straw. |
| Onions, Garlic | Thin layer of compost, grass clippings | Avoid thick, moist mulch, as the bulb heads can start to rot. A thin covering is enough to control weeds. |
| Perennial Flowers, Shrubs | Bark, wood chips, wood shavings | A durable solution that protects the soil all year round and gives the bed an aesthetic appearance. |
Summary: Less Work, More Life
Mulch gardening is not just one technique among many; it’s a change of mindset. By covering and feeding the soil, you create a self-regulating, resilient ecosystem. A garden that becomes more productive year after year, while your to-do list gets shorter.
Don’t be afraid to experiment! Start with a single bed and see the difference. Use the BioGarden365 app to log your experiences, note which mulches work for you, and track how your garden comes to life. Cover the soil and let nature do the hard work!
