Does Your Yard Have a Landscaping Theme?

Four Advantages Of Mulching

by Dan Mckinney

Mulch is a type of landscaping material that is made out of ground up organic materials: mostly wood, grass clippings, and similar substances. It is placed around the base of your plants to promote their growth, and it can be quite beneficial to your flowerbeds and yards if used properly. Understanding the advantages of using mulch in your landscaping design can help you figure out if getting certain areas of your yard and garden mulched is the right fit for your needs.

Moisture Trapping

The main advantage associated with mulching your yard is the fact that the mulch will hold on to moisture. This has several practical benefits: firstly, it will prevent water waste due to evaporation and run off, reducing the amount of water that you actually have to spray on your plants. It will also lock that moisture near the roots of your plants, which can promote their growth and can be extremely beneficial in the case of a drought by ensuring the maximum level of absorption possible. Finally, since there is no water run-off, mulch can help prevent erosion of topsoil, which is especially important for landscapes that incorporate a hill or slopes into their design.

Weather Insulation

In a similar vein to the above point, mulch can act as a barrier against the weather for your plants. By insulating against both hot and cold temperatures, mulch can help protect against scorching and excessive evaporation that can cause damage or death in the summer, while also protecting bulbs and root systems from frost damage when the snow finally falls.

Weed Reduction

One of the other major advantages of mulching is that it will significantly cut down on weed growth in your flowerbeds. This is because mulch acts as a barrier against the sunlight, which means that any new plant growth – not just weeds – is inhibited. This eliminates all forms of competition around your existing plants, allowing them to grow at a faster rate and flourish. 

Nutrient Provision

Beyond making it easier for water to reach the roots of your plants, mulch also acts as a source of essential nutrients to your plants. Since all mulch is made up of small particles of organic material, it will break down into nutrients over time as it decomposes, effectively transforming into compost. You can choose different types of mulches to provide a different set of nutrients to your yard: just check the packaging to see what each material will provide. Use resources like http://www.natures-design.biz to learn more!

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