Different Types of Mulch - Advantages and Disadvantages

Mulch is aesthetically pleasing because it looks clean and neat. This gives your garden a "finished" landscaping look and improves curb appeal. However, the benefits 1949 Leaf baseball cards mulch don't stop there. Mulch also helps to retain moisture, prevent soil erosion, control weeds and it adds nutrients to the soil. When it comes to choosing which type of mulch to use, you will find many different options. Here's a brief look at the different types and the advantages and disadvantages of each one.

Wood chips are the most Batman action figure type of mulch that you will find at a garden centre. They are easy to work with, plus it provides all the advantages listed above of good mulch. The only disadvantage that can be found is with new, unseasoned wood chips. They tend to give off toxins and acids that can damage new plants. As well, there is a possibility of developing a fungal contamination. It is best to stick with wood chips that have been aged for at least a year.

Leaves can also work. The advantage of using leaves as mulch is that they are free and if you have a lot of trees on or near your yard, then you will have a guaranteed supply every fall. The disadvantage of leaves is that if they haven't started to decompose, then they can easily blow away or become matted when it rains. Before using leaves, let them dry out completely and then crush or crumple them to alleviate their disadvantages.

Straw comes from the leftover stems of harvested grain crops. The main advantage of straw is that is makes a good ground cover for both newly seeded lawns and unplanted patches of garden. However, straw has a few disadvantages. Since it is so light, straw tends to blow away easily. As well, it will quickly decompose and needs to be replaced often. It is best to use straw as mulch for areas that won't need to be covered or protected for too long.

Newspaper or shredded paper works great in vegetable gardens. The advantages are that newspaper is easy to find and it will decompose very quickly. The disadvantages are that you may not find it attractive for landscaping and the coloured ink on the paper can actually harm plants. If you go for this cost efficient option, just make sure not to use sections such as the comics. As well, don't use any magazines, as the paper is too glossy.

Pine needles can also be used as mulch. They have several advantages: they look good in most landscaping designs, they retain moisture and they will stay in place even during a hard rain. The disadvantages are that they can be hard to find if you have to buy them and they tend to increase the level of acidity in the soil. However, some plants do love a more acidic soil, so pine needles work great with these plants.

Landscape fabric can be purchased from garden centres in rolls and is also called geotextile. It has several advantages, including providing excellent weed control, while still allowing air and moisture to pass through it to the soil below. The main disadvantage of landscape fabric is that the roots of plants above it can penetrate the fabric, making them hard to remove. This fabric works great in large areas and can even be used under permanent structures such as patios and decks.

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30 DAYS OF NIGHT - Perfect Halloween Reading and Viewing

Steve Niles' and Ben Templesmith have created a monster. The highly stylized and deeply disturbing 30 Days of Night graphic novel went on to spawn various sequels and a big screen feature film, as well as a TV mini series (Blood Trails) and an online prequel to the movie (Dust to Dust). Why have the tales of Barrow and its vampire visitors proved to be such a hit with comics fans and moviegoers? The popularity of that seminal first book (made up of the three issue IDW miniseries) is understandable on several levels. Firstly, it is a rip-roaring story told with a deft use of pacing and structure. Then there is the artwork. Ben Templesmith's stark, high-contrast artwork is exactly as bleak as the tale needs it to be, and his stylized visions of vampire carnage are extremely memorable. Once you read the book, those images stay with you for a very long time. With a tight script and no padding, the first 30 Days of Night graphic novel is about as perfect as modern horror comics get.

Two direct sequels to the first book were released as the title's popularity grew, namely Dark Days and Return to Barrow. As well as these two books, there have been various other titles that tie into the 30 Days of Night mythos, namely stories such as 30 Days of Night: Bloodsucker Tales, Dead Space, Spreading the Disease, Eben and Stella, Red Snow and Beyond Barrow. These works featured a variety of artists and co-writers, but were always overseen by creator Steve Niles. Niles also wrote two original prose novels based on the comics universe he created, namely '30 Days of Night: Rumours of the Undead' and '30 Days of Night: Immortal Remains'.

The biggest example of how far the comics forced their way into the popular consciousness is the feature film of the first book, starring Josh Hartnett and Melissa George in the lead roles. While not perfect, the 30 Days of Night movie is a very close interpretation of the graphic novel, and the distinct art style of Ben Templesmith is reproduced very well in the movie's cinematography. The washed out complexions of the vampires are almost translucent under the sickly lighting cast over the onscreen action. The direction, from David Slade, is mercilessly tense and captures the claustrophobic survival elements of the story very well. Receiving a mixed release at the box office, it was nonetheless one of the strongest comic book movies of the last few years.

So where next for the 30 Days of Night franchise? While details are thin on the ground regarding the future of the comics series, it would appear there is interest in more screen action from this particular set of vampires. A DVD sequel has been rumoured, along with more web content, but little in the way of concrete news is available at present. Ben Templesmith has gone on to become one of the comics industry's leading artists, and his own title, Welcome to Hoxford, is the most promising horror comic to hit the shelves since the first 30 Days of Night. I don;t think we've heard the last of the vampires just yet though. Rest assured, while there is darkness, there'll be Steve Niles and ben Templesmith lurking in the shadows, ready to scar your soul.

Andrew Hawnt is an expert on popular culture, horror collectibles, movies, TV, graphic novels, comics, movie collectibles and more. He writes for the famous Starstore blogs and the popular movie collectibles 1972 Topps baseball cards starstore.com as well as being a renowned music journalist and science fiction author. Gross Out Gang the latest news, free newsletters, podcasts and more, check out ===> http://starstoreblog.com