Inorganic mulch

[sumpnz]

So.  SWMBO is getting her garden interest going.  She's been watching some "Great Courses" videos on gardening.  The instructor was talking about mulch.  Said something about organic mulch.  Then went into a discussion on inorganic mulch.

 

[RoadKingLarry]

 

http://really-useful.y2u.co.uk/Garden/Ru_Garden_020_Mulching_A1.html

Some Types of Inorganic Mulch
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Inorganic mulches are inert materials that have not originated from living material. Sometimes inorganic and organic mulches are used in conjunction with one another. For example a geotextile (inorganic mulch) may be covered and held in place by bark chips (organic mulch). Some common inorganic mulches are:

* Stone - Looks great and provides great insulation. If removal in spring is a factor in your choice of mulch avoid using stone. Degrades very, very slowly. Apply to a depth of 2 - 4 inches.

* Plastic - Does not decompose so it does not add anything into the soil. Acts as a great weed control and is easily laid. Must be perforated to allow water to pass through. Apply in a thickness of 1 - 6 mm.

* Geotextile - Expensive blanket-like synthetic fiber that provides great weed control and allows for water penetration. Almost always used in conjunction with a cover mulch (e.g. bark chips). Apply in a single layer.

[K Frame]

You're kidding, right?

Inorganic mulch is a thing, as RKL points out. Friends of mine used to plant cantaloupes, big fields of them, and would use big rolls of black plastic as the mulch.

I've frequently mulched vegetable gardens with the same black plastic.

[Brad Johnson]

I guess "fill" was just too old-fashioned a term so they had to name it something new and snappy.

Brad

[K Frame]

I guess "fill" was just too old-fashioned a term so they had to name it something new and snappy.

Brad

Fill and mulch are two totally different things, and denote totally different purposes.

[RevDisk]

Wait, inorganic mulch isn't the correct term?  First time I heard it was when they started replacing playground mulch with recycled tire material.

[BlueStarLizzard]

Wait, inorganic mulch isn't the correct term?  First time I heard it was when they started replacing playground mulch with recycled tire material.

Uggg... I hated that stuff. It stinks.

It also leaves a kind of road rash if you land on it wrong.

[GigaBuist]

It's probably not what you're thinking and it looks nothing like what we usually call "mulch" -- but it does the same thing.  Attaching a picture.  You can run drip line under it while laying it which is pretty nice.  Keeps down water usage and lowers risk of fungal diseases like powdery mildew.  Downside is that you have to get it out of the field at the end of the season and that often sucks.

[MillCreek]

I like the description of stone as degrading 'very very slowly'.