Ideas for a Mulch Flower Bed

Basics

• Mulch in a flowerbed protects soil from erosion, reduces damage or compaction from heavy rain, conserves moisture between waterings or rainfalls, creates an even soil temperature and prevents weed growth. If you are planting a flower bed with flowers that require a lot of moisture, such as the Japanese water iris and other iris varieties, mulching is ideal. If you are creating a flower bed for roses, which need very little water, mulching may not be good for that particular bed.

Choosing a Mulch Material

• Select mulch that is attractive in the garden and keeps your flowers healthy. Bark chips and processed bark mulch are good for garden beds. In a few months, the chips improve the soil condition by adding nutrients. Newspaper clippings, which become a moist paper layer, work well to control weeds. Dried leaves, an organic mulch, give flower beds a damp, spongy consistency that helps growth.

Flower Bed Types

• Depending on the flower species, build or purchase an in-ground or raised garden bed. Pick raised beds if you live in a cold climate. The soil warms faster in spring, which means you can plant flower seeds and mulch earlier. In-ground flower beds are good for warmer climates because they require less watering due to water retention in the soil.

Placement

• Determine which part of your yard receives at least five hours of direct sunlight each day. Place the flowerbed in an area where they can be easily seen and appreciated, such as just off the back porch or in the center of the lawn, called an island bed. Place the garden bed facing south. In the spring, the soil warms faster, and the majority of flowers and flowering shrubs need direct sunlight.

Timing

• Wait until after the soil has completely warmed in the spring to add mulch. Mulching in cool, wet soil decreases germination and can harm seeds and seedlings. If you are adding additional layers of mulch to existing perennial flower beds, wait until the soil warms.

Irrigation

• Add a drip- or trickle-irrigation system. Drip irrigation allows a precise amount of water to dip directly into the plant roots. Mulched flowerbeds need less water because mulch prevents most evaporation. Water the flowerbeds regularly, depending on the flowers’ water requirements. Plants grow and produce more flowers with uniform watering.