Is Hardwood Bark Mulch Good For Blueberries

Colored wood mulch is often made from recycled wood that can contain objectionable additives including arsenic from pressure treated wood and is not always 100 hardwood pressure treated wood containing arsenic was phased out a decade ago by the epa but old crates and pallets may still be entering the recycling stream.

Is hardwood bark mulch good for blueberries.

Pine bark is made from the shredded bark of pine trees and is more acidic than most other mulch options making it a great option for using with blueberries. Mulch performs a key role in an attractive healthy garden or landscape but the array of choices can prove daunting. As long as you scatter a bit of organic fertilizer poultry manure or other nitrogen source over the surface each time you throw on a fresh layer sawdust makes unsurpassed mulch for blueberries. It is important to replenish mulch as it deteriorates.

Fine textured pine bark mulch is easy to spread but pine straw mulch looks lovely and discourages slugs. The correct answer depends on your site soil and available mulching materials but after trying three blueberry mulches wheat straw over roll out paper mulch 2007 bark mulch over newspapers 2008 and hay over newspapers 2009 we still weren t getting the weed suppression we wanted. You may opt to use any kind of mulch but just refrain from using barnyard manure because of its high salt content. Pine bark is excellent at reducing weed germination and is an aesthetically pleasing option for homeowners.

The best sawdust for blueberry mulching. Pine bark and hardwood mulches make up just two. Mulch should be 4 inches to 6 inches deep and cover a 4 foot band of soil centered on a blueberry plant row. It is absolutely vital for them because mulch helps acidify the soil control weeds conserve moisture and moderate soil temperature factors all responsible for healthy growth.

Blueberries need a good feeding in the fall with half the recommended amount of an organic acidic fertilizer. Follow with a deep watering and mulch 4 deep with any wood based mulch. Well maintained mulch can help control weeds and keep soil cool loose and uniformly moist.