Welcome Spring #5

Encouraging Soil Microorganisms

Why: Another great reason to mulch your garden is to promote or encourage the microorganisms in your soil.  The smaller organisms that live in your garden soil improve your plants nutrient and moisture uptake. This can lead to better plant health, ward off diseases and pests, and increase both growth and flowering.

How: Mulches that have or consist of organic matter, whether large pieces or well-broken down plant material, will naturally promote microorganisms to grow and thrive.  After two weeks to two months, you can turn over some mulch in your garden and will notice a whitish, thread-like growth in mats underneath and within the mulch.

General Tips:

  • It’s ok to disturb these areas in the mulch when weeding, digging, or moving plants.  The microorganisms will grow back after you recover them with the mulch.
  • Different composts, landscape mulch, arborist mulch, straw, burlap, sawdust, and other organic mulches will exhibit some form or level of microorganisms.
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