If you’re growing something in your garden this summer, or setting up new plants on the deck, try using leftover mulch to make some home improvements. Mulching is really easy and cheap!
Mulch is a great material to use around your garden. It can be used as a weed barrier, a soil amendment, and even as an organic fertilizer. One way to store mulch is with these storage containers.
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Mulch is an excellent addition to any lawn or garden, especially those with less-than-ideal growing circumstances. Mulch is also inexpensive and easily accessible at most local garden shops and hardware stores.
What happens if you have enough mulch to cover your whole area but still have some left over? You could just toss it away, but wasting things, particularly something that you paid for, is never a smart idea.
If you have any extra mulch and aren’t sure what to do with it, here are a few ideas.
1 – Give it away
There’s a potential that some mulch may be left over after you’ve mulched your yard. Instead of tossing it out, consider giving it to your neighbors.
While not everyone devotes the same amount of time and attention to their gardens, others on the block may benefit.
Keep an eye on your neighbors who have gardens, tree lawns, or other mulchable areas. Offer to let neighbors take what they need or even bring it to senior neighbors’ homes. Even if they have to spread it themselves, they will be overjoyed by the gesture.
After all, there’s nothing quite like being able to reuse something that might otherwise have ended up in the garbage. It’s satisfying in a variety of ways.
2 – Put it to Other Uses
When you’ve completed mulching your yard and still have any left over, don’t throw it away right away. Instead, seek for sections of the yard that may be reused or could benefit from a new layer of mulch.
Take, for example, your mailbox area. A tiny quantity of mulch is all that’s required to give the mailbox area a facelift. Even simply the mulch may give the area a newly planted appearance.
If you really want to go all out, put some flowers in the room as well. There’s nothing quite like a little touch of color and freshness to brighten up a mailbox area.
The mulch will help to support and foster the growth of those blooms, giving them a new look.
3 – Lay down a Mulch Path
While most people’s attention is drawn to the front yard, the rear yard should not be overlooked. When you’ve completed mulching the front yard, move to the rear yard with some of the extra mulch.
If there are any raised-bed gardens, consider adding a three- to four-inch layer. This will not only assist to define the area between each of the garden boxes, but it will also make it easier for you to access your gardens.
Your yard will have a cleaner overall appearance with that defined boundary and walkway. It may provide a crispness and structure to the overall scene that can’t be duplicated, especially in yards with well defined lines.
4 – It may be used as a Killing Mulch.
Whether you like it or not, there are plants that may become out of hand in a garden. These plants are invasive, meaning they may take over other plants in the garden, wreaking havoc on everything you’ve worked so hard to build.
Mulch has the potential to be the hidden weapon you’ve been searching for. A layer of additional mulch may assist to get rid of those troublesome guests once and for all, whether it’s runaway bamboo, ivy, or unattractive weeds.
All you have to do now is trim the plant down as far as you can and bury it in whatever mulch you have left. You should be able to suffocate even the most invasive plants with a foot (or more) of additional mulch (such as weeds).
5 – Put it away for next year
Landscaping and gardening need a continuous commitment to their upkeep. The frequency with which such care is provided is determined by the plant as well as a variety of other elements.
The simple reality is that you’ll probably need additional mulch next year around the same time. Why not try to preserve it?
It’s simple to store excess mulch, and you’ll always have enough on hand when you need it. All you’ll need are a few tarps and a secure location to keep everything out of the way.
Just make sure the mulch is placed as evenly as possible over the first tarp. This is to avoid any mold development that may occur in these cramped locations.
Once you’ve completed this, anchor the second tarp over the top to function as a roof.
You may take up just where you left off the next season with appropriate storage. Even if you see thin, white threads infiltrating the mulch later, it’s most likely mycelia, a fungus spore.
There is no need to be concerned since mycelia is beneficial to plants.
The plain reality of the issue is that having too much is preferable than having too little. Coming prepared with the appropriate quantity of mulch for a given area helps guarantee optimum covering and healthier, more consistent growth.
There are also several storage options based on whether or not you still have the original bag. If you do, just poke small holes in the bag to allow appropriate ventilation, and you may reuse it for up to a month.
Having some extra mulch on hand isn’t the worst thing that might happen. It’s up to you whether you give it away, use it to keep rambunctious plants in line, or just save it for a rainy day.
You’ll know what to do with any mulch that remains after a large job the next time it comes up.
Many people have mulch left over from their landscaping projects. If you are one of those people, here are 5 smart things to do with it. Reference: where to buy mulch near me.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you store leftover bulk mulch?
Where can I find it?
A: You should be able to buy bags of leftover mulch at your nearest home improvement store.
Can you till mulch into soil?
A: Yes, you can till mulch into soil.
Should you remove mulch every year?
A: The mulch should not need to be removed every year. If you are looking for an easy way to clean your yard, consider using a vacuum cleaner instead of removing the mulch and sweeping it up.
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