This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Weather Predictions: Think Mulch!

Well, call me silly but I am betting that our spring will be cooler and wetter and our summer will be hotter (and possibly drier towards late summer). Sound like 2013? That is what I am going with.

Many of our recent winters have been fairly mild. Not this year. Colder, wetter, and extended periods of below zero temperatures. Our spring may be cooler and wetter, as it was last year. By mid-July we will see some 100+ temps. This is all based on my scientific research. I use the pain in my knees and hands to guide me.

Whether we experience many days in the 90+ range and even some 100s, think seriously about mulching your veggie and herb gardens this year. You start mulching when the temperatures start to get into the upper 70s and the ground temperature (about 3” below the surface) has warmed into the upper 50s and 60s.

Find out what's happening in Golden Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Veggies, such as tomatoes, eggplants, squashes, melons, cucumbers, and peppers need warm soil to prosper. If you mulch too early you will keep the ground too cool for them. They won’t die, but you will slow their growth. Think mid to late June before you start mulching.

What to mulch with? There are a wide variety of mulches to consider. First, think about recycling when you think about mulching materials. You can mulch with 2” of compost. Are you creating your own compost? I use both shredded paper (from my shredder) and newspaper (but not the 4-color inserts and supplements). Cardboard works great as well. Straw and marsh hay (but not regular hay, too many weed seeds!).

Find out what's happening in Golden Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

You can use wood chips for your path areas, but do not till them into the soil unless you plan to add fertilizer that is higher in Nitrogen. The decaying chips will take Nitrogen from your soil and your plants. You will notice the leaves turning yellow. Grass clippings are another mulching option.

Use grass clippings at any time especially if they have not been recently sprayed with any herbicide or insecticide. If you intend to apply a pre-emergent fertilizer-herbicide in the spring, wait until after you have mowed your lawn at least three times. By the fourth mowing, the new grass leaves should be free of herbicide and you can use the clippings as mulch. The fertilizer component is an issue.

Okay, you don’t like dandelions and crabgrass. Forget applying herbicide or fertilizer more than twice a year. Apply your lawn fertilizer (and your pre-emergent) in September, which is the best time. And, if you really have to, apply it again in May. And that’s it.

Other mulches to consider. Weed fabric works well. It helps to cool the soil a bit and allows rain to penetrate to the soil. I would avoid plastic mulches because they prevent water from reaching your plants, especially if you bring the plastic right up close to them. Leave room for water to soak to the plant roots.

I have used old carpet as mulch for my pathways. Again, keep it away from your plants. This year I will also use leaves that I have saved from last fall for my squash and pumpkin section. I will be planting the seeds in a raised mounded hill. This will keep the weeds at bay when you mulch up to the base of the hill. And you can manually pull the few weeds around any of your plants.

So that is my prediction: hotter weather is coming. Mulching will help retain moisture and keep the soil cooler during the hottest days. Regardless, keep gardening!

Questions? Comments? Please respond at this blog.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Golden Valley