Maximizing Savings with Free Mulch – Frugal Gardening Tips

Embarking on a journey into vegetable gardening not only promises the joy of nurturing plants but also the reward of supplementing our diets with fresh, healthy produce. Gardening has been hailed for its myriad health benefits (Thompson, 2018), yet the financial aspect can pose a challenge. From acquiring plants or seeds to investing in mulch, soil amendments, and fertilizers, the expenses can add up. In this series of my frugal gardening series, we delve into practical ways to save money without compromising the health of your garden.

Mulch plays a crucial role in maintaining the vitality of your vegetable garden, even extending to raised beds. Apart from its aesthetic appeal, mulch serves several purposes. It aids in water conservation, reducing the frequency of watering sessions, which is particularly advantageous for moisture-loving plants like tomatoes. Moreover, organic mulches contribute to soil enrichment as they decompose, releasing essential nutrients (Mannino, Richter, Welsh, Cotner, n.d) and fostering a hospitable environment for beneficial organisms. By moderating soil temperature and suppressing weed growth, mulch ensures optimal conditions for plant growth. However, mulching multiple beds can strain your budget.

An economical approach to acquiring mulch involves capitalizing on the abundance of natural resources during fall and winter. Fallen leaves, often discarded as waste, present a valuable source of mulch. These fallen leaves are placed at the roadside by so many of our neighbors. By collecting and storing these leaves, you can build a stockpile to spread over your garden beds. Allowing the leaves to decompose gradually enhances soil fertility and attracts beneficial microbes and fungi (Heckman, Kluchinski, Derr, 1998). However, it's important to note that nutrient release from leaves may take a year or longer, and during this period, nitrogen may be temporarily locked up (Heckman, Kluchinski, Derr, 1998). Supplementing with fertilizer can offset this nutrient depletion.

In regions abundant with pine needles, such as our beautiful area, they serve as an alternative mulching material. Pine straw mulch decomposes slowly, contributing to long-term soil enrichment while also regulating soil temperature and suppressing weeds (Sing, Maggard, Barlow, Rkush, 2021). Pine straw does not raise the acidity of your soil.

Lawn clippings, often overlooked, present another cost-effective mulching option. However, it's crucial to ensure that the clippings are free from herbicides. Lawn clippings should be applied dry and no more than one to two inches (Bauer, Weisenhorn, Mugass, Pedersen, 2018).

Used coffee grounds, available for free from local coffee shops or through programs like Starbucks' Grounds for Gardens, offer an additional mulching resource. When applying coffee grounds as a mulch only a couple of inches should be applied and they should be covered with another mulch such as leaves or pine straw (Pokorny, 2023).

Personally, I utilize a combination of these mulching methods throughout the year. Layering coffee grounds, leaves, and pine straw during fall and winter facilitates gradual decomposition and soil enrichment by spring. Additionally, I incorporate lawn clippings throughout the summer on top of the existing mulch. At the end of the summer, I add compost from my various compost bins on top of the beds. However, it's important to note that initially, there may be a decrease in garden yields when adopting layered mulching practices in the first year. This is due to the nitrogen being locked up by all the carbon-rich material. This can be mitigated by supplementing it with organic fertilizers and soil amendments to replenish the nitrogen. This will be less of a problem in following years.

In conclusion, maximizing savings with mulch not only reduces gardening expenses but also promotes soil health and sustainable gardening practices. By harnessing readily available resources and implementing diverse mulching strategies, you can cultivate a thriving vegetable garden without breaking the bank. Stay tuned for future articles on free organic fertilizers and soil amendments to further enhance your gardening experience.

Thompson, R. (2018). Gardening for health: a regular dose of gardening. Clinical Medicine (London, England), 18(3), 201–205.

https://doi.org/10.7861/clinmedicine.18-3-201

Mannino, V., Richter, R., Welsh, D., & Cotner, S. (n.d.). Don’t Bag It - Leaf Management Plan - Earth-Kind® Landscaping Earth-Kind® Landscaping. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Retrieved May 10, 2024, from

https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/landscape/leaf-management-plan/#:~:text=As%20organic%20mulches%20decompose%2C%20they,shred%20and%20collect%20the%20leaves.

Heckman, J., Kluchinski, D., & Derr, D. (1998, November 1). Plant Nutrients in Municipal Leaves (Rutgers NJAES). Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station.

https://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/publication.php?pid=FS824

Singh, Z., Maggard, A., Barlow, R., & Kush, J. (2021). A Comparison of the Attributes of Pine Straw from Southern Pine Species1. Journal of Environmental Horticulture, 39(3), 115–122.

https://doi.org/10.24266/0738-2898-39.3.115

Bauer, S., Weisenhorn, J., Mugass, B., & Pedersen, B. (2018). What to do with lawn clippings. UMN Extension.

https://extension.umn.edu/lawn-care/what-do-lawn-clippings#:~:text=Grass%20clippings%20are%20a%20good,getting%20down%20into%20the%20soil.

Pokorny, K. (2023, June 23). Used appropriately, coffee grounds improve soil and kill slugs. Life at OSU.

https://today.oregonstate.edu/news/used-appropriately-coffee-grounds-improve-soil-and-kill-slugs#:~:text=Coffee%20grounds%20are%20best%20at,can%20be%20thrown%20in%2C%20too.