Thin mulch cost me a whole bed of perennials last summer

I always put down a light layer of mulch to save money. After my plants dried out and died, a buddy explained that deeper mulch holds moisture better. How thick do you guys go with mulch in your projects?

3 comments

3 Comments

diana_ramirez8d ago

Ever notice how cutting corners usually costs more in the end? This mulch problem shows that pattern well. Skipping on mulch depth might save cash now, but dead plants mean you lost all your earlier work and money. I see this all the time with stuff like cheap shoes that fall apart fast. For mulch, I always aim for three inches thick to really hold in water and protect the plants. What thickness do you plan to try next time?

the_parker8d ago

Wait, you use three inches of mulch? I've always heard that too much can choke out plants by blocking air. Last year I tried two and a half inches and ended up with root rot from poor drainage. How do you keep everything healthy with that much covering the soil?

noahmartin8d ago

Disagree about thicker always being better, it really depends on your soil and rain. I put down a heavy three inches once and it made a slimy, moldy mess that killed my stuff, kinda like what happened to @the_parker. Now I go for a loose two inches max and my beds are way happier. Too much just locks in wetness and stops the soil from breathing, lol. It's about what your garden actually needs, not just following a rule.