A UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS EXTENSION HORTICULTURE EDUCATOR IS OFFERING SOME ADVICE FOR SELECTING THE BEST MULCH FOR YOUR GARDEN.

MULCH CAN HELP MODERATE SOIL TEMPERATURES, REDUCE WEEDS AND LOOKS NICE OVERALL. THE EXTENSION’S NICOLE FLOWERS-KIMMERLE (kim-er-lee) SAYS THERE ARE FOUR TYPES: LIVING, SYNTHETIC, ORGANIC AND INORGANIC:

STONES ARE COSTLIER UP FRONT BUT LAST LONGER AND DO NOT INCREASE SOIL TEMPS IN THE SUMMER. FLOWERS-KIMMERLE SAYS SYNTHETIC MULCH LIKE LANDSCAPE FABRIC IS FINE FOR THE SHORT TERM, BUT THE BEST OVERALL MULCH CHOICE FOR EXPENSE AND EFFECTIVENESS IS WOOD CHIPS.

GROUND COVER PLANTS ARE CONSIDERED A LIVING MULCH, WHICH CAN COMPETE FOR RESOURCES LIKE WATER AND NUTRIENTS. THE LAST TYPE IS INORGANIC MULCH WHICH INCLUDES STONES AND CONCRETE PAVERS. FLOWERS-KIMMERLE SAYS THEY COST MORE UP FRONT BUT LAST LONGER.