Kainoa & The Benefits of Mulch

Giovanni and I visited the garden on Saturday to lay down some mulch, plant some tomatoes and bananas, and even start a new garden bed. Luckily, we were assisted by five-year-old Kainoa, who, with boyish delight, has become somewhat of a garden aficionado. He is our first resident gardener, and is so eager and enthusiastic, I'm convinced that his positive energy is bound to help our garden thrive.



Kainoa was a big help in laying down the mulching material, and took particular pleasure in stomping it down into place. I explained to him that mulching is a natural, harmless (and fun!) way to suppress weeds, improve the soil, and conserve water.

Weed Suppression
If the mulch is free of weed seeds, it will eventually break down to form a weed-free organic layer on top of the soil. Any weed seeds in the soil will slowly get buried deeper and deeper and won't get the chance to germinate. If you don't allow any more weeds to set seed and don't disturb the soil, you can eventually almost eliminate annual weeds entirely.

Soil Building & Soil Life
Mulching is the easiest and most natural way to add nutrients to the soil and improve it's structure. Most organic materials break down quickly once they are in contact with the soil, as the humid interface of the soil and air is an ideal place for decomposing organisms. Mulch benefits soil organisms by providing food, blocking out the sun, stabilizing soil temperature, giving refuge from predators and providing suitable habitat. It is one of the best ways to increase the number of earthworms in the soil.

Water Conservation
Mulch significantly reduces evaporation of water from the soil. Not only does it shade the surface from the sun, it also increases the humidity of the air under the mulch.



It was Pema who suggested we use straw as a mulching material. Straw is an ideal material to use because it's clean, attractive, and a rich source of humus. We purchased two bales of straw at Dell's, which cost about $20. With so many benefits, I consider that an excellent bargain! -Stacey Casco