Pine Bark Mulch?
Question:Is there a problem with using recently cut pine bark mulch in and around the vegetable garden, namely around tomatoes and cucumbers? I usually use several sheets of newspaper first before putting the mulch on top.
Answers:
As long is it's a BARK mulch, it's fine. pine wood will deplete nitrogen more substantially than would bark.
The reason is that the biologicals in the soil need nitrogen to break down the organic content.
Newspaper can act as a weed membrane, not a bad idea.
There should not be, bugs may be a concern though.
Using pine bark mulch will deplete the soil of nitrogen. I forget exactly why, but I do remember this fact from my horticulture class.
I use pink bark mulch exclusively. It is inexpensive, it lasts longer than most mulches, and it is attractive. As it decomposes, however, it leaches nitrogen from your soil. After it decomposes, it will put the nitrogen back in. You are wise to use newspaper under it. I don't use newspaper, because I have access to cowlots and I heavily enrich my soil with nitrogen via aged cow manure.
More Related Questions & Answers...