Thimna MatikaMulch and wood chips are good for the garden and have different uses. It is usually used as a cover in garden beds, with its light plant matter that is easily decomposable like leaves. Wood chips are shredded bits of the branches and bark. These parts of the tree are harder and take longer to decompose.
Here is the lowdown on leaf and wood chip mulch.
Leaf Mulch
This light plant matter such as fallen leaves will decompose quickly. It is perfect for plant and flower beds as they usually have delicate seedlings, plants and flowers growing. Wood chips are sometimes hard and may damage delicate plants. Because of its light and soft texture, it protects fragile plants without causing damage, unlike tougher materials such as wood chips. Leaf mulch acts as a soil cover, retaining moisture for longer as soil does not get direct access to sunlight.
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Wood Chip Mulch
Wood chips are denser and harder than leaf mulch as they are made up of shredded tree branches and bark. The wood chips are harder and dense therefore they take longer to decompose. When used as mulch they suppress weeds and keep the garden soil rich with nutrients and a cool temperature. This contributes to healthy fast growing plants and decreases the prevalence of insects as it makes it hard for creeping insects and slugs and snails to move through.
Image credit: Pexels
In addition to their use in garden beds, wood chips are perfect for covering pathways in gardens and yards. They add a rustic, natural aesthetic to the landscape while offering practical advantages such as reducing mud and keeping weeds from overtaking walkways.
Whether you are nurturing delicate seedlings or creating a well-maintained garden path, both leaf mulch and wood chip mulch have their distinct advantages. Their thoughtful application not only improves the garden’s appearance but also supports plant health and sustainable soil management.
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