When you head out to mulch a garden, prepare to break a sweat. Although labor-intensive, the garden task is worth the effort, providing a topping for bare soil, suppressing weeds and, depending on the mulch material, improving the garden. Even though no method -- short of hiring muscle -- makes mulching less work, streamline your efforts by using the correct tools.
Mulch on Wheels
The mulch you use can be purchased in bags -- an expensive option but suitable for small spaces -- or loose mulch delivered by the cubic yard to your garden. Although carrying bagged mulch to a garden by hand is an option, it's easier to drop it in a wheelbarrow or garden cart for transport. A wheelbarrow works best for transporting loose mulch. If you don't have a wheelbarrow or a garden cart, then shovel the mulch onto a plastic tarp, and drag the tarp to the garden.
A Point of Difference
A square-point shovel works best for moving mulch materials such as pebbles, wood chips and sawdust. A pitchfork works well for loose straw mulch. If you want to move a pile of lightweight, fine mulch, such as pine needles or dry sawdust, then a large scoop shovel moves the most material the fastest. Garden shovels with a round, pointed edges are better suited for digging in soil. If you don't have anything else on hand, use an empty plastic flowerpot to scoop mulch.
A Sturdy Rake
Use a sturdy bow rake to spread mulch. Bow rakes have short, sturdy tines, generally about 3 inches long. Leaf rakes are useless for moving all but the fluffiest mulches. When transferring mulch from a wheelbarrow or tarp to a garden, place several small piles of mulch rather than one big pile in the garden. That technique makes spreading the mulch easier. The proper mulch depth varies with the material, but generally plan to spread pebbles 1 inch deep and organic mulch 2 to 3 inches deep on garden soil.
Gloves, Dust and Weeds
Wearing gloves while applying mulch will protect your hands. Heavy-duty leather or rubber-padded gloves offer the best protection. Thin, cloth gloves are better suited for planting annuals than moving mulch. If you work with a dusty or moldy mulch material, then wear a dust mask to protect your lungs.
A hoe is another useful tool to have on hand when putting down mulch. A garden bed should be weeded thoroughly before mulch is applied, but while mulching use the hoe to uproot all weeds that escaped previous detection.
Landscape fabric put on the ground before mulch helps to suppress weeds. Mulch can be used alone for weed control, but landscape fabric provides extra protection. If you decide to lay landscape fabric, then use a pair of sharp shears to cut it to size and to cut slits in the material to place it around landscape plants. If you work on a windy day, hold down the landscape fabric with rocks or bricks until you can get the mulch on top of it. After the mulch is laid, it will hold the fabric in place.
- Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images