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Spring is a busy time for gardeners and a lot of time, effort and money are invested preparing gardens, putting in flowers and shrubs and planting trees. A great way to protect all this work is to use wood mulch around the plants.

Sawdust, in various stages of decay, may be used throughout the garden. Older, darker and more de-composed sawdust is best worked into the soil. In this way it fortifies the soil with nutrients as it continues to break down. It also provides a better habitat for earthworms, enriches sandy soils, helps to retain moisture and loosens heavy clay soils.

Bark, wood chips and fresher sawdust are best used on the soil surface. Here the mulches inhibit weed growth, also help reduce moisture loss from the soil and reduce overheating of the roots. Wood mulch will also reduce erosion, especially useful when establishing gardens and new shrubs and trees on slopes. Bark will last longer than chips and sawdust, as its’ higher lignin content and larger size result in it decaying more slowly. Bark and wood chips make especially attractive and functional garden pathways at very low cost.

The use of wood mulch has another advantage as it is ‘low maintenance’. The use of wood mulch prevents weeds from becoming established in the first place, an easier solution than removing them once they are threatening your flowers and plants. It is also an environmentally friendly gardening technique as it reduces or eliminates the need to apply herbicides. Also, the amount of water that must be applied is greatly reduced- thanks to the moisture retention of the mulch. Save your well water and pumping costs or reduce your municipal water bill and the application of chlorine.

In the Ottawa Valley one of the best sources of wood mulch are the heritage wood residuals from our local sawmills. Some of the sawmills are selling wood mulches directly.

Neumann’s, on Sawmill Road off Mud Lake Road near Pembroke, sells mulch in various stages of decay for different applications and soil types. You can buy 50, 30 or 20 year old sawdust- depending on your needs. As well there are bark and wood chips available.

Saar’s Mill, at 48 Saar’s Lane off Highway 41, also has screened mulch available for sale.

Saar’s Store has bags of mulch available too. You may buy it conveniently bagged for easy handling or in bulk- bring your trailer or truck and buy as much as you require.

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