Mulch Uses Mulch Thickness Conserves Moderates Erosion Control Suppress Est. Veg. Improves Reduce Comments Material of Soil Moisture Soil Temp. Weeds Soil Fertility airborne Application particulates Lawn 2 3 inches Fair - Good Good Poor Fair Fair - Good Poor Fair - Good Fair Subject Green grass clippings – – Clippings (dry Can compact Can be removed by to wind will produce heat and clippings) and seal water blowing odors, may contain preventing viable seed water from penetrating Pine Needles 4 8 inches Fair - Good Fair - Good Fair - Good Fair - Good Poor Fair - Good Fair Good for acid-soil – before Subject to plants, long lasting wind blowing Hay* 4 8 inches Good Good Good Good Good Fair Good Good Decomposes and must – – (2.5 T/ac) May need to be mixed Must be Must be be replenished with soil to anchor anchored anchored periodically to control weeds, may contain many weed seed Leaves* 3 8 inches Good Good Fair Fair - Good Poor Fair Good Fair Contributes many – – (shredded May need to be lightly Subject to valuable nutrients and partially mixed with soil to anchor wind decomposed) blowing Bark and 2 - 4 inches Good Good Fair Good Poor Poor Good Decomposes slowly, Wood Chips, water and air can be removed by well for permanent Wood movement runoff plantings. Black Walnut Shavings* good bark and wood are very toxic to many plants
Mulch Uses Mulch Material Thickness of Application Conserves Soil Moisture Moderates Soil Temp. Erosion Control Suppress Weeds Est. Veg. Improves Soil Fertility Reduce airborne particulates Comments Lawn Clippings (dry clippings) 2 – 3 inches Fair - Good Can compact and seal preventing water from penetrating Good Poor – Fair Can be removed by water Fair - Good Poor Fair - Good Fair Subject to wind blowing Green grass clippings will produce heat and odors, may contain viable seed Pine Needles before 4 – 8 inches Fair - Good Fair - Good Fair - Good Fair - Good Poor Fair - Good Fair Subject to wind blowing Good for acid-soil plants, long lasting Hay* 4 – 8 inches (2.5 T/ac) Good Good Good May need to be mixed with soil to anchor Good Good Must be anchored Fair – Good Good Must be anchored Decomposes and must be replenished periodically to control weeds, may contain many weed seed Leaves* (shredded and partially decomposed) 3 – 8 inches Good Good Fair May need to be lightly mixed with soil to anchor Fair - Good Poor Fair – Good Fair Subject to wind blowing Contributes many valuable nutrients Bark and Wood Chips, Wood Shavings* 2 - 4 inches Good water and air movement good Good Fair can be removed by runoff Good Poor Poor Good Decomposes slowly, well for permanent plantings. Black Walnut bark and wood are very toxic to many plants
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