Benefits of Mulch

by | Dec 13, 2014 | Curb Appeal, Home Maintenance Tips, Landscape Maintenance, Landscaping | 0 comments

What is Mulch?

Mulching is one of the best things you can do for your landscape beds. Mulch is nothing more than a protective barrier placed around your plants and over your bare soil. It is typically composed of a variety of decomposing organic materials such as bark, wood chips, pine needles, or straw. A more permanent mulch may consists of non-decomposing, non-organic materials such as black plastic, landscaping fabric, recycled tires, pebbles, and river rock. Regardless of the type of mulch used,  mulching gardens is one of the single most beneficial practices you can adopt in maintaining the grounds around your home.

 

Why Mulch?

There are many reasons to mulch your landscape beds. Here are just a few:

Weed control

Mulch helps to suppress weeds. By placing a layer of mulch on the ground, limited sunlight can find its way to the weeds. As a result, the weeds are unable to flourish. Also, any weeds that do grow in the mulch are very easy to remove. The weed roots grow through the loose mulch rather than more solid soil. When pulled, the roots come up with the plant and can be easily disposed of.

Insulator

As an insulator, mulch works both ways. That is, it will shield your plants’ roots from some of the worst of winter’s cold, sometimes making it possible for you to grow plants that are only borderline-hardy for your region. And by insulating the frozen soil from the sun’s rays on that odd mild day in the winter, you’ll help your plants maintain the protective state of dormancy that they’re in.

Conserve Moisture

Organic mulches absorb water. Organic and non-organic varieties both cover the soil and limit evaporation. Retaining moisture, especially during hot, dry seasons can not only help out your plants, but it can also help reduce your water bill in the summer.

Control Erosion
Among the other benefits of mulch is that it helps you control erosion. Mulching not only keeps existing water trapped in the soil, it also keeps rain water from washing away your soil. It does this by breaking the fall of the water and therefore lessening the force when the water impacts the ground. Mulch applied in the fall keeps the severe weather conditions of winter from eroding your soil and robbing it of valuable nutrients.
Improve the Soil
No only does mulch keep soil nutrients from being washed away with the rain, but it also can release nutrients into the soil if you are using an organic material. This happens as the organic material slowly decomposes on top of the soil. Also, using organic material for mulching can encourage earthworms to occupy your garden soil. And as any good gardener will tell you, earthworms help improve soil structure and nutrient cycling. Finally, if you walk over a portion of your garden frequently, mulching it will reduce the chances of your developing compacted soil in those areas.
Curb Appeal!!
A fresh layer a mulch just simply looks great. It gives your property a nice, clean, well-kept feel to people passing by and, most importantly, to you every time you walk up to the house.

Now is a great time to install mulch. Contact us today for a FREE quote!