Glass Mulch
How to Make and Use Glass Mulch
Making your own glass mulch can be a nifty way to save some money on gardening expenses. It's also a great way of clearing out all of those extra glass bottles and nik-naks that are piling up in your garage. You may have quite a few questions about this unique type of mulch. We are going to cover the three most common questions, such as what is glass mulch? Is it really safe to use in a garden? How can it be made?
Let's start off with what glass-based mulch really is. This mulch is, quite plainly put, the application of small glass pieces over a bed of soil--much like one would apply wood chips around the base of a tree. This has been used in landscaping for quite some time but has seen a sudden rise in popularity over recent years. Because glass is available in so many different colors, textures, and sizes, it can tailor to any type of garden theme or provide a gorgeous backdrop to exotic flowers.
Glass mulch is quite easy to find. Many aesthetically pleasing colors and textures can be purchased in garden supply stores, however these can get expensive if you're trying to outfit a large garden. Local waste disposal companies may even provide glass mulch free of charge, however the colors and textures will be highly limited to whatever glass was supplied through the recycle collection program. But if you're fine with green or brown glass, then you may just be better off stopping by your local garbage collections company and inquiring about glass mulch. There is one definite benefit to purchasing glass rather than creating your own mulch, and that is the fact that mulch purchased from the store or obtained from a waste company will be pre-tumbled. Tumbling is a process in which the edges of the glass shards are sanded down. This prevents any jagged pieces from cutting a gardener's hands or sensitive animal paws.
Many people wonder if glass-based mulch can have an effect on the health of their plants. In general, this type of mulch does not harm plants. Now, plants that are highly intolerant to warm temperatures may find that glass mulch warms the soil a bit too much. As sunlight hits the glass, the glass naturally magnifies the heat and sends it into the soil. For most plants this isn't an issue, but those that are already struggling with the heat of certain USDA zones may be intolerant. Other that heat, glass mulch is really a fantastic mulch to have--one of the best ones, in fact. Why? Not only is it highly decorative, but it keeps moisture from evaporating out of the soil and also provides a layer of protection against weather damage to the soil. Also, because glass takes thousands of years to break down, it will never have to be replaced. So if you do decide to purchase your glass-based mulch from the store, at least you can justify the cost by admitting that you won't have to replace it!
If you're looking to make your own mulch from bits of glass you have lying around, then be prepared! You'll need a towel, a hammer, gloves, and preferably protective eye ware. Place the bottles in a towel and fold the towel over them. Note: You'll want to do this outside. Hammer the towel until the glass shards have taken on the ideal size for your garden. Once the glass is broken up, you need to tumble it to smooth the edges. This is important not only for your own sake but also for any kids or animals that may happen into your garden. You can use a large barrel with sand or an old oatmeal tub with sand--it really just depends on how much mulch you are trying to make. Place the glass shards into the container with the sand and start shaking! If you're opting for a barrel, you may want to find a large hill to aid you in this process. It may take a few treks up and down the hill until the glass ends become softened, but it's the quickest and cheapest way to do a large batch of mulch with items you likely already have on hand. Once the glass shards have softened, simply sift them out of the sand and place them in your garden!