I recently had a one-year-old pile of wood chips spread across my 16x16' garden, but it was applied way too thick—about 12 to 18 inches in some areas! I didn't realize the person doing it used all the chips they had. Now, I have to dig deep trenches just to get to the composted goat manure underneath, and the mulch keeps moving back down, causing concerns for my seeds, especially my radishes, carrots, and onions. I'm worried about whether this thick layer of mulch is ruining my garden and if I need to start shoveling it out. Anyone have advice?
3 Answers
Having too much mulch definitely isn't ideal, especially if it's thick enough to block the roots from accessing nutrients. If it's mixed into the soil, that could be a problem. But if it's just sitting on top, don't stress too much—your plants will likely adapt. Maybe creating walkways to help manage the mulch could be a good plan.
Twelve inches is definitely excessive! You might want to think about removing some to create walkable areas around your garden. Keep an eye on whether the wood chips are too acidic for certain plants; some love it, but others might struggle. If you're worried about your roots getting stunted, definitely clear some of that mulch out.
You're on the right track by pulling back some of that mulch! Raking a lot of it into a pile and moving it with a wheelbarrow is a solid approach. For a garden that size, it shouldn't take too long to clear some out. Just aim for about 2-3 inches of mulch in the future for the best results with your plants.