Is Hardwood Bark Mulch Good For Blueberries

Pine bark is excellent at reducing weed germination and is an aesthetically pleasing option for homeowners.

Is hardwood bark mulch good for blueberries.

Sawdust mulch is a common mulch type that is available in several varieties. Blueberries need mulch for healthy growth. Blueberry bushes have shallow roots and benefit from a thick layer of mulch. 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.

Fine textured pine bark mulch is easy to spread but pine straw mulch looks lovely and discourages slugs. It is important to replenish mulch as it deteriorates. Well maintained mulch can help control weeds and keep soil cool loose and uniformly moist. 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.

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. 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. 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.

You may opt to use any kind of mulch but just refrain from using barnyard manure because of its high salt content. Mulch should be 4 inches to 6 inches deep and cover a 4 foot band of soil centered on a blueberry plant row. 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.