I'm curious about the best order of operations when setting up new garden beds. Why do many people prefer to plant before laying down mulch? Isn't it more efficient to put down mulch first? When mulching after planting, it can be a hassle carrying buckets around and avoiding damaging plant stems. I've started to just lay down the mulch first and then move it aside to plant. Sure, I'm okay with potentially losing some nitrogen since I usually have compost underneath. Plus, the faster the mulch breaks down, the better the carbon cycling in the soil for future mulch layers!
8 Answers
If it’s your first time, trust me, always mulch last! Do all your other work like trimming and weeding first, and keep mulching as the finishing touch. Mulch is basically the frosting on your garden cake.
I think plant experts and landscapers view mulch differently. For me, it’s a key part of my growth cycle as opposed to just being a material for others.
For me, when I’m planting shrubs, I always mulch last. If it’s delicate perennials, I tend to mulch first. It really depends on what you’re dealing with at the time!
I usually mix in some mulch and organic matter into the soil before planting, then mulch around the plants afterward. It helps with drainage, I find!
I get that planting first is easier to manage depth and stems, but I've recently enjoyed the mulch-first approach where I just scrape it aside to plant. Just a personal preference I guess!
Totally hear you! After years of stepping on stems and hauling buckets, I'm really loving the flexibility of mulching first.
I've found that planting in mulch can really mix soil with weed seeds that you’re trying to suppress. It’s often a matter of what you're planting. If I'm using large root balls, I definitely prefer to mulch after planting. But, with smaller plants, it might not matter as much.
I usually deal with tiny seedlings, so I get that! Larger roots can complicate things, but I've found that with some integrated weed management, it can help make the soil more fungal dominant, which keeps weeds down.
Personally, I lean towards mulching first and then adding plants later on. I like to move and divide my plants as they go on sale, so it just makes sense for me.
Same here! That flexible approach works great.
For me, it’s simple: I plant first, then mulch!
I hear you! I use brown mulch that blends in. But I get it, you seem to prefer a more structured garden.