Mulch, Mulch, Mulch!
Why Mulch?
Mulch is and can be key to any tree or plants success, with many benefits that both you, and your plants will love. Keeping the thermometer low– dry hot soil can burn roots and kill plants. Plants love cool soil and mulch provides the insulating blanket needed to protect from the elements keeping the soil cool and leading us to our next point…Keeping the moisture high– with cool soil you are able to keep the moisture high. Mulch provides the blanket required to keep soil moist at the same time allowing the soil to draw from the water retention the mulch holds whenever it rains leaving less watering for you. Keeping the weeds at bay– a proper amount of mulch does not give weeds the light and warmth they need to survive. Is you back feeling better?
To dos of mulching
Create and edge– a clear separation from planting to lawn is important. Keep the grass with grass and the plants with the plants. Be gone weeds– before mulching, ensure your surface is plucked free from any lingering weeds that may create more work later. Water your mulch– a good watering of the mulch when watering plant is important to create the dense layer required to keep out invasive species and the mulch moisture will continue to water your plants.
Too much mulch?
Yes, there is such a thing as too much mulch. Applying mulch directly to root balls or scattered within the plant can pose problems or death. Keeping a thick laying of mulch around the species, forming a dome or bowl for natural watering from rain water falling off leaves and migrating to the roots.
Weeds and Mulch
A nuisance to everyone. They are sharp, unsightly, and overall just more work than needed. Have you ever noticed a weed and said to yourself “how could that possibly grow there”? That’s right, weeds can grow anywhere, loving sunlight and dry soil conditions. Any basic synthetic weed barrier purchased at your local hardware store placed before mulch will assist but a nice 3” layer of mulch should be enough to keep most weeds at bay.