6 Reasons to Add Mulch to Your Landscape
You may have heard about mulching before and wondered what is it and why does it matter? Mulch is a layer of material you use to cover exposed soil. It's an unsung hero with plenty of benefits for every garden and landscape.
It's best to mulch in late spring when the ground is warmer or early fall before it gets too cold. For information on what you need to know about mulching, we break down the different types of mulch and 6 top benefits.
Understanding Different Types of Mulch
There are natural and synthetic mulch materials you can use. However, natural and biodegradable materials will decompose and provide more benefits to your soil. Unlike compost, you don’t mix mulch into the soil but simply place it on top to cover any exposed soil. Examples of beneficial natural mulch include:
Grass clippings
Straw
Leaves
Pine bark
Wood chips
You can use different types of mulch for different areas of your landscape. For example, finely ground bark or shredded leaves in raised vegetable beds will protect the soil and decompose faster for added nutrients. However, larger hardwood mulch works better on walking paths where you just want to protect against weed intrusion and erosion.
Some people also use synthetic materials such as plastic or rubber. You can also use non-biodegradable natural materials such as stone and shells. While they do provide soil cover, the benefits aren't as much towards soil nutrients. Gravel and stone mulch can work well if you are mulching in an area that needs good drainage.
6 Benefits of Mulching
1. Moderates Soil Temperature
The feeder roots of your plants are important for taking up nutrients so your plant can grow healthy. These roots grow within the first few inches underneath the soil surface and shouldn't be exposed to extreme cold or hot temperatures. Mulching provides the protection the roots need to stay healthy.
2. Holds Moisture in the Soil
Besides protection against temperatures, mulch is also a barrier against evaporation. It helps hold moisture in the soil, so your plants become more drought tolerant. This means you can cut down on your watering frequency without significantly impacting your plants.
3. Suppresses Weed Growth
Properly using mulch can significantly reduce the number of weeds on your property. The mulch coverings prevent weed seeds from receiving the light they need to germinate. It can also prevent seeds blowing in the wind from taking root in the soil.
4. Prevents Runoff and Erosion
If your soil crusts over, it can cause surface runoff of water and easily break down from wind erosion. Compacted and crusted soils can also create various long-term problems for your landscape and garden. Mulch helps prevent your soil from erosion, compacting, and crusting over.
5. Improves the Soil
Healthy soils should contain around 30% of organic matter that also encourages soil drainage. Using biodegradable mulches will break down to help improve the quality of your soil. Insects and microbes in the soil will also consume the mulch to add nutritional by-products in the form of organic matter back to the soil.
6. Adds Curb Appeal
One major reason gardeners use mulch is because it looks great. It can add rich color and manicured look to your garden and landscape beds, including along the foundation of your property, between garden beds, and around trees or shrubs.
If you want help designing your landscape to include the best mulch for your space, we're here to help. At Right Way Landscaping, we partner with homeowners and property management companies to provide you with services such as lawn care, weed abatement, and plant maintenance. Contact us today to request your free job walk and estimate.