Mulching Basics

Mulching is one of the most important ways to maintain healthy landscaped plants; one of the many reasons why homeowner's associations insist on mulch or pine straw for that matter.

Mulching provides a host of benefits to your landscaping efforts. When used properly mulch has the following effects on plants and soil. Mulches can prevent water loss from the underneath soil by minimizing evaporation? Mulches also reduce the growth of weeds when the soil material itself is weed free, and applied directly enough to prevent weed germination or to smother existing weeds. Mulches help your law and landscaping in the spring, fall, and summer by keeping the soil cooler and preventing overheating.

During cold winters, mulch insulates the soil to help keep it warmer minimizing frost damage to the plants. Lawn maintenance mulches are a great idea in the summer that help protect trees and shrubs from physical damage from lawn equipment. In almost any situation, mulching is a good idea.

The best time to mulch new plantings is right after you plant them. Near older plants that are already established, mulch is recommended in early spring. This is when plants are beginning to grow and before summer weeds have a chance to germinate.

Mulch only needs to be replenished as it begins to decompose and depends on the different types of mulch material. Grass clippings and leaves decompose very fast and need to be replenished frequently. Inorganic mulches such as gravel and pebbles do not need replacement and the plants will fill in the bed area on their own; less and less mulch will be needed.

The amount of mulch to apply depends on the texture and density of the mulch material. Many wood mulches and bark mulches are made of finer particles and should not exceed three inches in depth. Too much fine textured mulches will suffocate plant roots by blocking air flow; causing the leave to turn yellow and resulting in poor growth.

Coarse textured mulches like pine bark nuggets allow great air flow through them and because of this can be laid up to 4 inches deep. Mulches composed of grass clippings or shredded leaves should never be deeper than 2 inches as these materials tend to mat together restricting the water and air supply to plant roots.

Mulching is a practice that gardners, landscapers, and homeowners all take part in. It's an easy way to upgrade your yard and a smart idea to help protect and nurture your trees, shrubs, and plants. It's also a great way to boost the curb appeal of your home.


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Matt Buquoi is owner of Flower Window Boxes. To get more ideas about hardscaping and how to boost your curb appeal visit their site. Window box ideas, planters, and more.