Much ado about mulch: make time to nurture garden soil

Q. Could you please enlighten me on the mysteries of mulch? The soil in my raised vegetable beds dries out far too fast in the heat of summer. I was told I needed to place mulch around the plants. If this is this something you do, what materials do you use and when do you apply them? I’m hoping for a better garden next year.

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A. During the active growing season, I begin mulching around major plantings like tomatoes, kale, broccoli, squash, cucumbers and carrots with a high quality compost, to give them a nourishing boost and to help conserve soil moisture.

I do this usually in late spring or early summer, when air and soil temperatures begin to warm. I make sure the ground is thoroughly watered first.

In the unusually high heat of recent summers, the compost mulch has not been enough to keep the soil from becoming over-heated and dry. Over the compost mulch I add a light, airy layer of either chopped, dry leaves or chopped straw. The pale colour of straw makes it a good sunlight deflector. It is also lightweight, easy to handle, and re-usable.

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You do not need to wait until next spring to begin nurturing and revitalizing the soil. As your beds empty, cover them for the winter with whatever organic materials come most easily to hand. I often get leaves from a neighbour’s maple tree, and I use the straw that had served as a summer mulch around plantings. Small weeds and cut up, leafy garden clippings can also be used.

Since I’ve been protecting emptied vegetable plots for the winter with these mulches, I’ve been delighted at the condition of the soil when I brush aside the mulch to plant. Some of the mulch can be incorporated into the soil. The rest can be composted or set aside for summer mulching.

In spring, prepare plots for planting with a generous layer of a nourishing compost, home-made or purchased.

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