Free Mulch

Frugality can be applied in all aspects of existence and in fact is best practised as a way of life. Working in the garden is not exception.

“There is no dignity quite so impressive, and no independence quite so important, as living within your means.” 

This was uttered by Calvin Coolidge, who if you do not know, was the 30^th President of the United States from 1923 to 1929.  I wonder how he would feel  now if he could see the current Age of Continuous Consumption and the reign of the credit card.  What an amazing thing the credit card, to make a card of debt sound positive!

Back to frugality in action, this time some suggestions for the garden. Mulch is a very important part of any garden to reduce water loss, stifle the growth of weeds, enhance the fertility of the soil and improve soil structure. However mulch costs  but by thinking outside the square, there are some frugal means to get all the benefits of mulching without it costing much money, a little time maybe but the pockets will not be siphoned free of gold.

Suggestions for cheap / free mulch:

• Bark. We have cold winters so there is a constant requirement for firewood. Living frugally, this is collected throughout the year. As the branches are cut to size, the outer bark is removed and used as mulch. This mulch in particular is much more chook proof as our free range hens have greater difficulty using their feet to move it and it therefore acts as a home for all sorts of small wildlife. These are good to minimise pests.

Bark and some leaves used as mulch here. Note the wood ( free) used to add height and texture to the garden

• Leaves. If there are fallen leaves about  they can be  used as mulch if present in sufficient numbers, these also make an excellent mulch. I always check to see what grows under the trees they come from as some leaves e.g pine needles are quite acidic and could kill certain plants.

Leaves can be used even around pot plants

Again a mixture of leaves in the foreground and bark

• Prunings/ Thinnings. As trees are shaped all trimmings are kept to use as mulch. Thinnings from the fruit trees if the branches are thick enough, are dried, chopped to smaller sizes and used on the barbeque to smoke vegetables and meat. Free smoker chips! They are just soaked in water for an hour or so and I place them directly on the grill. Adds a lovely flavour.

Might look a little ugly or untidy to start but it soon settles down. Mulch around the new Camelia's. 

• Weeds or unwanted plants. Never mulch with weeds that you have not taken the seed heads from. Otherwise, I use a range of weeds making sure they are in a position to dry out and not take root. I try to have the roots uppermost.

This is my weed graveyard. I put weeds here to dry out and then often move them at a later stage. This is settling down a lot and will soon be planted with grasses and flax.

These are sedges that were used originally as protection plants in one garden to help build a micro climate for the other new plants. Once the plants became established the sedge clumps were removed and used as mulch.

• Lawn clippings.  I generally dry these out first before using so they do not form a thick layer that rots down and stops water passing through.
• Other. If I purchase product it is usually a bag of sugar cane mulch. I use this in the vegetable garden as it is easy to use, cheap, the organic stuff is free of herbicides and a little goes a long way. In Australia, a $14 bag covers 6 square metres.

Make Mulch, Not War.