How to Mulch a Garden

easyGardening1-2 hours6 steps

Tools Needed

Draw-hoe — Used with a chopping motion for weeds and hard/stony ground

Spading-fork — Used for digging and fining surface soil

Spade — Used for making beds or forming walks

Wheel-hoe — Pushed forward with a jerky motion for expeditious cultivating

Compost or aged manure — Blended into the earth(as needed)

Thick mulch — Used to protect young plants from cold(as needed)

Bale of straw — Used to cool soil for fall crops(as needed)

Black plastic — Used to warm the soil in early spring(as needed)

Prepare the planting spot by removing weeds and blending compost or aged manure into the earth.

Tip: Use a spading-fork for efficient digging and fining of the surface soil.

For early spring preparation, warm the soil using black plastic.

Tip: Do this once the soil has been prepared.

Apply mulch to the prepared soil in early spring.

Tip: This is specifically recommended before planting zucchini.

To cool the soil for a fall crop (e.g., lettuce) in August, moisten the soil and cover it with a bale of straw.

Tip: Rotate the straw bale around the garden every couple of weeks.

Protect young plants, such as spinach, throughout the winter using thick mulch.

Tip: Combine with a cold frame for added protection.

Remove the mulch in spring when the soil temperature reaches 40ºF to allow for growth or harvest.

Tip: Replace the mulch after harvesting some spinach to continue protection.

Keep the area free of weeds to improve air circulation.
For fall crops, the soil under a straw bale should be a few degrees cooler than the rest of the garden after one week.

Synthesized from 10 verified sources:

Gutenberg: War Gardens GuideView →

Old Farmer's AlmanacView →

Cornell ExtensionView →

Old Farmer's AlmanacView →

Cornell ExtensionView →

Old Farmer's AlmanacView →