Mulch does more than keep your garden looking tidy. Many people skip mulch because they don’t see the point, but that’s a mistake that might cost them later.
Mulch plays a large part in keeping soil moisturized, and preventing weeds from cropping up in your flowerbeds. It also protects your trees and plants from harm, and has an aesthetic appeal as well. If you aren’t already using mulch, you should consider working it into your gardening routine.
If you’re not sure where to begin with mulch, here’s some information to help you find your way.
5 Reasons Why You Should Mulch Your Garden
As mentioned above, mulching has its benefits. The appearance and tidiness of mulch certainly contributes to its popularity, but it’s actually quite useful in a garden. Along with providing curb appeal, mulch can also:
- Prevent weeds. Essentially, mulch is a layer that keeps weeds from cropping up. This reduces the time you spend weeding, and helps maintain your garden’s appearance.
- Protect plants. Winter frost can wreak havoc on exposed roots and plant bases. Mulch protects your garden residents from damage.
- Improve health. As organic mulch breaks down, it puts important nutrients back into the soil. This provides your plants with better food, making them stronger and healthier.
- Retains moisture. During hot days, mulch provides a protective barrier against the sun, and keeps the soil underneath moist. The heat and damp mulch also create the perfect environment for helpful microbes.
- Repels pests. Some types of mulch do this extraordinarily well. For example, cedar and pine wood chips can prevent gnats and fleas from entering your garden.
Different Types of Mulch
If you’re considering adding mulch to your garden, you might be curious about what options you have. Luckily, there’s quite a bit of variety when it comes to choosing mulch.
However, this variety can be equally stressful for someone who doesn’t know what to pick. Here’s a quick rundown on the different types of mulch, and their individual benefits.
- Grass clippings.Inexpensive and easy to get your hands on, this is the ideal mulch for someone who doesn’t want to spend much in the mulching department. However, some lawn owners might not like the appearance of grass clippings in their garden.
- Wood chips. This is a popular choice, and for good reason. Along with looking natural and pleasant, wood chips are a slow-decomposing mulch that will keep your garden in good shape for a long time.
- Straw. Not to be confused with hay, which might contain seeds and weeds. Straw is great for newly seeded lawns and gardens. It decomposes well, and is easily matted down to create a network of moisture-retaining mulch.
- Inorganic mulches. These are gaining popularity, especially among people that don’t want to replace their mulches often. Black plastic, landscape fabrics, and even rocks can serve as mulch, but you should consider your garden before jumping into any of these.
Proper mulching
If you’re going to mulch your garden, you should do it right. There are a few beginner mistakes that can harm your plants and trees over time, and reduce the efficacy of mulch. Mulch is meant to improve the health of your garden, not reduce it.
Too much of a good thing is a real issue, especially with mulch. Make sure not to pile it too high, or you’ll run the risk of rot and pests. You should also avoid piling mulch too high over your trees bases. These “mulch volcanoes” can put stress on your trees and harm their growth.
When to Hire a Landscaper
Mulching takes time and effort to do correctly, and if you maintain a large garden or commercial property, you might not have the manpower to do it yourself. Many residential homes can also benefit from using a landscaper, especially those with large gardens, flowerbeds, and decorated walkways.
If you find yourself dreading the idea of spending more time outside, or just lack the time to do your garden justice, consider hiring a trusty, capable landscaper. They have the skills and resources to do the job right, and keep your garden looking its best.
Those in the Indianapolis area don’t have to look far to find a landscaper worth trusting. Aisling View has been building, maintaining, and improving gardens for years, and they’re dedicated to making sure your property is well cared for.
It’s important to know when to ask for help, and a professional landscaper can help you manage your garden and lawn with ease.
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