6 Facts About Mulch You Should Know

Mulch may seem like such a simple thing, but it actually offers many benefits in terms of curb appeal, soil erosion, weed control, plant root support, and more. Here’s what you should know about the benefits of mulch and mulching best practices for a residential or commercial property.

#1. Mulch improves playground safety

Most playground injuries happen when children fall from the playground equipment. A thick layer of protective mulch that’s 6″ to 12″ thick helps absorb shock and reduce the risk of serious injury. Mulch is actually the top recommended solution for playground ground cover.

#2. Mulch comes in many types

Mulch can be divided into two main categories: organic which is made from plant material and inorganic which includes rubber and rocks. Organic mulch can include everything from pine needles and straw to shredded wood, compost, and bark chips, most of which come in a range of colors. The right type of mulch will depend on where it’s used and the style you want to achieve.

#3. Mulch retains water in the soil

Mulch helps improve water retention in the soil to prevent plant roots from drying out, especially in the summer. This can also reduce the amount and frequency of your landscaping need to be watered.

#4. Mulch helps prevent weeds

One of the biggest challenges in landscape and garden maintenance is fighting back against seemingly constant weed growth. Like plants, weeds need warmth and light to grow. Mulch works as a natural weed barrier that prevents most weed seeds from sprouting.

#5. Mulch can help control landscape pests

Some mulch types like cedar mulch contain oils that repel many types of pests. As the mulch decomposes, it also changes soil conditions to encourage beneficial fungi and insects in the garden. The two best options to deter garden pests are cedar and cypress mulch.

#6. Mulch dramatically boosts the appearance of your landscaping

Nothing gives landscaping and flowerbeds a polished and clean appearance like a fresh layer of mulch. Mulch comes in a huge variety of textures and colors to add beautiful texture and color to empty spaces and enhance the appearance of landscape features and plants.

Best Mulching Practices

Follow these tips for the best success when installing mulch.

• Mulch volcanoes can be harmful. While mulch can protect plant roots when applied at the right depth, too much mulch can have the opposite effect. A volcano mulch around a tree reduces the amount of oxygen that reaches the roots, eventually causing root rot. Mulch should never be placed against the trunk of a tree or on top of the root ball.
• Mulching should be done as early in the growing season as possible in North Carolina to protect plant roots and regulate ground temperature.
• As a general rule, mulch should be applied with a depth of 2 to 3 inches during the growing season.
• Blown-in mulch is a cost-effective and efficient solution to mulching all of your landscaping or property. A two-man crew using blower equipment and a truck can do in a couple of hours what it would take a large crew an entire day to complete.