AUGUST 2017 – Are you trying to figure out a better way to rid your yard of weeds? Have you been trying to conserve water usage, but still think something more can be done? Incorporating organic mulch in your landscape can help to solve these problems as well as several others.
Here are six benefits of using mulch and why it’s a great addition to your landscape.
1. WEED CONTROL
Controlling weeds always seem to be an ongoing battle but mulch can severely stunt the weed population you may be seeing. Mulch doesn’t kill weeds, so prior to applying a layer of mulch to your landscape, it is important to remove any existing weeds and water the soil. This allows mulch to acclimate and act as a protective barrier for the soil and prevent weed seeds from germinating and springing up throughout your yard.
2. ADDS NUTRIENTS
Organic mulch can come in several different forms, but is predominately seen as wood chips or bark, pine needles, or hay. It will break down over time and become a part of your existing soil. This helps to keep the soil soft, allowing in water and air, and also provides room and nutrients for roots to grow and flourish. This added benefit helps maintain a healthy environment for your plants, trees, bushes, or edible garden. You can also use your own organic material for mulch, such as tree clippings or any pruning from your plants or bushes.
3. EROSION PREVENTION
Exposed soil doesn’t have any protection against the elements of nature. If you have a sloped yard or experience run off when watering your plants or during the rainy season, mulch is a useful tool to help prevent erosion. It provides a barrier against the rain and helps the soil to absorb water rather than being washed away.
4. PROTECTIVE BARRIER
Mulch acts as an insulating barrier to help maintain an even temperature for soil. In warmer months, it shades soil from direct sunlight, helping with water retention and keeping the soil cool. In colder months, it acts as a barrier to protect soil from frost or freeze.
5. CREATES CURB APPEAL
Mulch adds beauty, depth and dimension to any landscape. Rather than leaving soil exposed and bare, try adding mulch to create a beautiful touch to your landscape and spruce up your yard. Fill in dirt around a tree (leaving a few inches of space between the tree trunk and the mulch), add it as a filler in a flower garden, or decorate any space you want to, and give your yard a whole new look and feel.
6. SAVES TIME AND ENERGY
Mulch provides a thriving environment to create fertile soil, which increases the vitality of your garden, and decreases the amount of time needed to maintain the soil. Because mulch acts as an insulating barrier and helps the soil retain water, it can also help with water conservation, decreasing the amount of water you need to use daily.
Mulching is a great way to add beauty and elegance to your landscape while providing the nourishment your soil needs to have a thriving garden. Just a few inches of mulch can go a long way in providing all of these benefits and more. Incorporating mulch into your landscape now will provide protection against the heat we’ve been experiencing and will also help in the coming months as we prepare for rains again.
If you have questions regarding adding mulch to your landscape, or would like to set up a consultation, please call our office at 619-579-9151 or visit our contact page.