Nothing gives quite the visual impact that freshly mulched garden beds do. It’s a good landscaping practice in the spring that makes a fast, powerful statement about your yard. Mulch isn’t just for looks either. Mulching offers several benefits to your plants and soil.
Here are six reasons to mulch this spring:
Mulch Retains Moisture
Mulching is a great way to improve soil moisture and prevent plants from drying out too quickly. As water conservation goes, mulch is the place to start. Just a thin layer of mulch will block the sun from hitting shrub bases and delicate plant roots without hindering water absorption. Moisture evaporation from soil covered with mulch is typically reduced by 10% to as much as 50%. Foundation plantings, trees and shrubs, and flower beds can all benefit, and you won’t have to worry about watering quite as much.
Mulch Reduces Weeds
We all appreciate mulch for the effective way it blocks weed growth (no one enjoys weeding!). Annual mulching goes a long way toward eliminating the need for weeding. The mulch product must be weed-free to begin with, and it needs to be applied evenly at the right depth to help prevent existing weed seeds from germinating. Besides being ugly, reducing weeds is also important because these pesky plants steal valuable nutrients from the plants you do want in your gardens.
Mulch Improves Plant Health
Because mulch keeps soil in place, it offers better, more consistent drainage. This allows plants to absorb nutrients better, improving plant health. As lower layers of mulch decay, the quality and structure of the soil is improved for healthier plants.
Mulch Protects and Insulates
One of the most overlooked benefits of mulch may be its significant effect on soil temperatures. Mulch creates a barrier from the heat and cold. Many plants don’t appreciate wide temperature swings. Mulch keeps the soil around plants’ roots cooler on hot days, and warmer through colder nights. In cold weather, mulch helps prevent the soil from the freeze-thaw cycle, which is damaging to many plants, and can cause roots being pushed out of the ground.
Mulch Stabilizes the Soil
Providing a protective top layer, mulching reduces soil erosion and soil compaction from happening. Mulch also prevents soil splashing, which not only stops erosion, but keeps diseases and pests from splashing up onto the plants.
Mulch Improves a Property’s Appearance
Lastly, we do have to mention how darn nice fresh mulch makes your yard look! It makes garden beds and landscaping features pop, and it allows plants, shrubs and trees to really stand out.
Mulch quality and proper application does matter, however, to fully realize all its benefits.
How Much Mulch?
Be careful not to use too much mulch as that can create a layer that doesn’t decompose or allow for root growth. The soil can become so compacted that water and nutrients can’t penetrate to the roots. This is easily avoided by stripping off as much of the old mulch and then adding a fresh layer each year. Keep your mulch around 3 inches deep, making sure to keep it away from the trunk of trees or shrubs.
For the Best Quality Mulch – Call AC Yard Services
At AC Yard Services, we use only black mulch that is produced in Maine. This means our mulch is free from weed spores, odorless (except for that nice fresh-mulch smell), and stays in place. Our mulch is clean and consistent for the best application quality and appearance.
We place all our mulch by hand, never using spray mulching machinery. AC Yard Services projects look thorough and flawless every time!
