Mulching is one of the most important ways to maintain a healthy landscape; it adds a layer of protection to garden beds, enriches the soil, and helps to provide a better growing environment overall.
Read on for a few of the key benefits of installing bark mulch to your landscape:
• Mulch protects the soil from erosion. Soil erosion happens when water or winds slowly wear away the surface of the soil. A layer of mulch acts adds protection and serves as a buffer from forces potentially damaging to the soil underneath.
• Mulch helps to hold in soil moisture, protecting plants from drying out. A layer of mulch conserves moisture in the soil below by preventing loss of water by evaporation. Mulch also helps to prevent crusting of the surface layer of the soil, thus improving water absorption and movement within the soil, and reducing the need for frequent waterings.
• Mulch helps to maintain a more even soil temperature. Mulch provides an insulating barrier between the soil and the air, helping to moderate the soil temperature. During the hot summer months, a layer of mulch keeps the soil cooler, protecting plant roots from extreme heat and reducing the need for constant watering. During the winter, mulch insulates the soil and plant roots, helping to prevent repeated patterns of freezing and thawing, therefore reducing the chance of heaving (when the soil buckles upward) in the spring.
• Mulch improves the soil structure. As mulch decomposes, it provides organic matter which adds beneficial nutrients to the soil and helps keep the soil loose. This improves root growth, increases the infiltration of water, and also improves the water-holding capacity of the soil.
• Mulch provides a form of weed control. As long as it is deep enough (we recommend 3 inches), the mulch layer serves as a barrier, and can prevent weed germination and smother existing weeds. Any weeds that do manage to break through this barrier will be easier to pull.
• Mulch provides a finished look to your landscape by providing a cover of uniform color and interesting texture to the surface. Whatever color you select (red, brown, black, etc.), a layer of mulch contrasts with the plants above, visually making them stand out more. Mulch also helps to keep the plants clean by preventing the splash of soil onto the leaves during rainstorms or heavier waterings.
Contact us for a free estimate, and see for yourself the advantages of bark mulch!
Michael Muir
Owner, Muir Bros. Landscaping and Snowplowing, Inc.