Hey everyone! I'm looking for some advice on garden soil and mulch options. Last year's choices didn't quite meet my expectations, and I generally like using cedar mulch. I'd love to hear what types of garden soils you all recommend and what mulch works best for you. Also, which garden zones are you all in? I'm working with both raised beds and in-ground planting, so any tips would be appreciated!
3 Answers
I can't get enough mulch! I use the Chip Drop app to get free wood mulch, which is super convenient. The local landscape supply has different options; I stick to shredded green waste mulch since it breaks down nicely and enriches the soil. My favorite soil is a good raised bed mix that they sell there; it’s a blend of topsoil and various manures which works perfectly in my hot, dry climate.
I go for pine bark mulch on paths and leaf mulch on my beds. I also use straw and dried grass clippings since they add valuable nutrients and improve soil quality as they break down. I usually lay down cardboard before adding wood mulch, which helps block light for a bit before it disintegrates. I do pull the mulch back when planting seeds since slugs can hide in it and damage seedlings! Overall, keeping mulch around your garden is a must to retain moisture.
For my raised beds, I mix together some raised bed garden soil, mushroom compost, and top soil. As for mulch, I prefer to make use of leaves and grass clippings from my yard—it’s free! I've been gardening this way for about five years, and it really works well for me. Plus, the no-till method has helped a lot with maintaining a good microbial community in the soil!
Totally agree! We do the same here. Every fall, we fill our beds with leaves and compost we've saved up throughout the year, then top it off with soil in the spring. It helps with moisture too, especially during hot months.
I'm curious, do you use that raised bed soil mix directly in the ground too? What zone are you in?
I’ve heard a bit about the Chip Drop app—could you give me more details? I can’t seem to find it in the app store.