Mulch On The Mind

Top five benefits of mulching in the Spring

Protection from storms and heat.

Have you ever heard the term April showers bring May flowers? There is some truth behind that – Spring is the primary time for storms and rain to roll in. While we may get storms that last throughout the summer, the rain begins earlier in the year.

Intense rainstorms or the inevitable heat can cause major damage to your lawn and the plants growing there. Adding mulch to your landscape beds or around your trees protects them from heavy rains and high temperatures, so they don’t wither or become diseased!

Discourages weeds from growing in your landscape beds.

Unfortunately, weeds are a major threat to your lawn that you don’t always see coming until it’s too late. They spread like wildfire and seemingly overtake your lawn in no time. Luckily for you, there are preventative measures you can take to avoid as many weeds on your landscape as possible!

If you take the extra step to add mulch to your lawn, it will sit among your landscape beds, suppressing any sprouts trying to break through. It also prevents sunlight and extra water from getting to the seeds and beginning germination.

Helps to filter water and keep nutrients in the soil.

When the rain does come, it can be a blessing for your lawn, but too much water can be bad. Mulch filters the water coming in and retains some of that water within the soil, so when it becomes dry again, there will still be some moisture left over.

By doing this, you’re also preventing excess nutrients from being washed away with the weather. Additionally, as the organic mulch breaks down, it releases more nutrients into the soil and acts as a natural fertilizer for your plant life.

Acts as an insect repellant.

Insects can cause many problems for your landscape and can deter folks from wanting to spend any time outside on their lawn. There are a few different ways to combat this issue, but did you know there are ways to do it without using chemicals?

Some types of organic mulch especially act as a natural deterrent to many tiny critters. For example, mulch made from cedar deters pests due to the natural oils within the wood. On the other hand, using organic mulch encourages beneficial insects like earthworks to settle into your garden’s soil.

Upgrades the curb appeal of your home.

First impressions matter, even with a residential property, but what you do to change that impression makes a difference. For example, changing the outside appearance for the better will automatically make your property look much better.

Adding mulch of any kind will boost the curb appeal and make your landscaping stand out more! Bark, lava rock, river rock, or a mixture of these changes the overall aesthetic and helps your lawn stand out.

How to properly apply mulch around your trees and plants

When you’re ready to apply mulch to your landscape, it’s important to start with a cleared area with no obvious blemishes and smooth the surface it’ll be applied to. It also helps to have a wheelbarrow to dump the mulch into to pull from easier!

When new mulch is applied to these areas, it’s best to begin with small mounds around the space you’re working with (thus avoiding excess where you don’t want it). Then, using a rake or gloved hands, the mulch is spread evenly, about two to three inches deep.

How you should replace existing mulch on your lawn

Replacing old mulch with fresh stuff is a longer process because you have to get rid of what was there previously. So the first step is shoveling everything out, carefully avoiding those beautiful plants growing in those landscape beds.

Once the area is cleared from the old mulch, you begin the process as you would with new mulch. Smooth the surface, apply the mounds evenly across the soil, and spread it out to ensure everywhere has an even amount.

What can Mowing R Us do to help me?

More often than not, it pays to have a helping hand in areas where your skill set is small or nonexistent. Unfortunately, most homeowners don’t have much (if any) landscape experience and may do more harm than good to their lawn by attempting it on their own.

Fortunately, you have a team of professionals on your side who are ready for any landscape challenge, big or small! Mowing R Us knows what to do with mulch and how it’s applied and can give advice if needed on how to move forward with future landscape bed maintenance!