How to Prepare Garden Mulch

Co-authored by Lauren Kurtz

Last Updated: August 27, 2021 References

You can easily make your own garden mulch using organic or inorganic materials. Leaves, grass, straw, and other biodegradable items can be used to make a mulch that will cover your soil and add nutrients to it as it decomposes. Non-biodegradable mulch will protect your soil from weeds and keep it warm.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Preparing and Applying Biodegradable Mulch

1
Collect organic materials for your mulch from your backyard. Use materials such as leaves, grass, straw, wood chips, sawdust, peat moss, or pine needles as a base for your organic mulch. Pick up these materials slowly and carefully to be sure that they are dry and free of bugs. Collect these materials in a closed plastic bin until you are ready to make the mulch.^{[1]
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- Be sure that no weeds get mixed into your compost materials.
- Collect materials on dry days and store them for future use.
- Do not use grass clippings if your lawn has been treated with weed-killing chemicals. ^{[2]
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2
Break down your mulch materials as much as possible. To fully benefit from the nutrient-rich properties of your organic mulch, break or cut up all of your materials into the finest pieces possible. This will allow them to decompose more quickly. Use hedge trimmers, strong scissors, a sturdy shovel, or other tools to break up these materials.^{[3]
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- You can use larger pieces of organic materials for your mulch, but it will not start adding nutrients to your soil as quickly, nor will it look as tidy.
- Rent a wood chipper or shredder or make wood chips from broken trees limbs or other timber. ^{[4]
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3
Remove all weeds from the soil before applying mulch. It is important to remove weeds from your garden before applying mulch so that the mulch doesn't make them stronger. Use a garden fork to effectively dig out weeds from the root to ensure they don't grow back. If a weed is loosened effectively, you should be able to pull it out of the soil easily. ^{[5]
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Leading gardening charity in the U.K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plants
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- Wear gloves to protect your hands.
4
Apply a nitrogen-rich fertilizer to the soil. Certain organic ingredients in garden mulch, such as leaves and straw, can rob the ground of nitrogen. Before laying down your biodegradable mulch, fertilize the soil to prepare for this loss. You can make your own nitrogen fertilizer or purchase one at a local garden center.^{[6]
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5
Apply mulch at least 1 inch away from plant stems. Layer garden mulch on the surface of the soil surrounding your plants and trees. Be sure to leave at least 1 inch around the base of each plant that is untouched by the mulch. Plants may rot or develop a fungus if garden mulch suffocates their roots.^{[7]
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- Apply a layer of at least 2 inches (5.1 cm) of biodegradable fertilizer to make sure that it is effective.
6
Remove biodegradable mulch when it is decomposed. Once the materials in your mulch have disintegrated and can no longer be recognized, remove the mulch from your soil. Gently rake away the old mulch from the surface of the soil and dispose of it. Replace it with a layer of fresh mulch.^{[8]
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Royal Horticultural Society
Leading gardening charity in the U.K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plants
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- A build-up of old mulch can produce a hard film on your soil, making it difficult for water to penetrate to the roots of your plants.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Applying Non-Biodegradable Mulch

1
Use plastic mulch to prevent weeds and warm the soil. Some plants thrive in warm soil, which can be difficult to achieve in cooler temperatures. Purchase black plastic mulch from a garden center or online to cover your soil during these cold-temperature periods. Layer plastic around your plants or cut holes in the sheeting to accommodate your plants.
- Use bricks to weigh down the sheeting, or purchase garden stakes from your local garden center.
2
Make a rubber mulch from shredded tires or other rubber scraps. Rubber is an effective cover for your soil that will retain heat and prevent weeds. Place scraps of tire around your plants, leaving at least 1 inch around the base of your plants. Rubber is weather-resistant and will not need to be replaced frequently.^{[9]
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- If you don't have rubber scraps, get some from a scrap yard or recycling center.
- Rubber mulch will leave a strong rubber smell in your garden, which may dissuade some gardeners.
- Use as many pieces of rubber as needed to cover the soil in your garden bed.
3
Place stones over the surface of the soil to prevent weeds. Large stones can be used as a non-biodegradable mulch that will keep weeds at bay. Place stones close enough together that weeds will have difficulty growing in between them. This type of mulch can add a decorative flair to your garden, and it will not need to be replaced.^{[10]
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- You can also use pebbles and gravel for a finer version of this mulch.