3 Reasons Why Mulch Matters

Consider mulch an investment with guaranteed yields. In addition to improving your property’s appearance, it reduces weeds, stabilizes the soil, conserves water, and improves plant health. Many people do not know that mulch has insulating properties, making the spring and fall — when the soil isn’t too hot or cold — the best times to lay a fresh layer. Learn more about why mulch is your landscape’s master multi-tasker.

Mulch Retains Moisture

Mulch is a powerful tool for water conservation. A thin layer of mulch blocks the sun without impeding irrigation, so soil stays cooler. Moisture evaporation from soil covered with mulch is typically reduced by 10 to 50 percent. Foundation plantings, trees, and flower beds can all benefit.

Mulch Reduces Weeds

Studies have found weeding time to be greatly reduced through the use of mulches. Proper mulching, coupled with herbicide application, can practically eliminate the need for weeding and cultivating. In order to fully realize the benefits, application and mulch quality matters. The mulch must be weed-free and must be applied evenly at an appropriate depth to help prevent existing weed seeds from germinating.

Mulch Protects and Insulates

The effect mulch has on soil temperatures is probably one of the most overlooked benefits. Mulch keeps the soil around your plants’ roots cooler on warm days and warmer on cold nights. This is especially important during rapid temperature shifts. In cold weather, mulch works to prevent the soil from alternately freezing and thawing, which can lead to plants and roots being pushed out of the ground.