Garden Mulch: A Lifesaver!

My garden is in full swing, and I'm going to have my hands full this summer with food preservation! Although it will be much work, I'm looking forward to harvesting and canning/freezing/dehydrating the bounty! We had a fabulous Spring, but now we are entering a bit of a drought, so we're having to water our gardens in southern Illinois. I recently heard an interview on the radio with a University of Missouri Extension Master Gardener. He said it is better to water your garden early in the morning rather than in the evening. The reason for this is so water doesn't hang on your foliage all night, which can increase the likelihood for disease. If you water in the morning, the sun will dry the leaves, which makes for a happier plant. Good to know!

I am always trying to learn new things to become a better gardener. Last year I began mulching my garden with newspaper and straw. I was hesitant to put newpaper in my garden, but boy, was it a time saver when it came to watering and weed pulling! I will ALWAYS mulch my garden from now on. Here are some of the benefits:

1.) Newspaper and straw/leaves/grass clippings help hold moisture in the soil, so less watering is needed.
2.) When the mulch breaks down, it helps contribute to a nutrient rich, organic soil. Do it year after year and watch your soil change!
3.) No weed pulling or spraying! The newspaper keeps sunlight from getting through for those pesky weeds.

So, this is my commercial for mulching. It takes a little work, yes. But I will gladly take one day of work over many days of chopping weeds and watering. Plus, I'm improving my soil!

Here is a photo of a mulched tomato plant from my garden. Simply place a layer of newspaper or magazine pages on the ground, then cover with straw, leaves and/or grass clippings. No tilling, no weeding, no spraying, less watering!