Welcome to Dunton Family Farms
Since 1909

[ Fall Composting ] [ In Place Composting ]

Mulching has been an important part of our gardening routine for decades.  I actually cannot remember not mulching and I am getting to be pretty old.

We use lawn clippings, hay, straw, or compost for our garden beds and bark dust for our flower beds in the more formal landscaped areas.

While composting converts plant matter into a soil amendment, we mulch throughout the growing season to create a protective barrier around plants that:

• Helps to conserve soil moisture.

• Reduces soil compaction.

• Reduces weed growth.

• Reduces disease.

• Protects fruit.

• It looks pretty!

First, a layer of mulch helps to keep the soil from drying out.  It really does reduce the amount of watering we have to do.  It also helps to reduce compaction after heavy rains.

At the same time, a thick layer of mulch keeps weeds from germinating and those that do, are typically weak and easily removed.

Since the risk of soil splashing onto the plant from rain or during the process of watering, disease problems are reduce.

For sprawling plants like squash, melons, and even tomatoes, mulching helps to reduce rot that fruits often get where they come into contact with the soil.

We start applying mulch in the late spring after the soil has warmed up.  At the end of the growing season, any mulch that has not broken down is removed during our fall garden cleanup and use in our compost piles.

Interesting Links:

• Easy Gardening...Mulching - Texas A&M

• Mulching for a Healthy Landscape - Virginia Cooperative Extension

• Mulching Vegetables - University of Georgia Extension