Why Mulch?
Mulch is alway recommended by landscaping companies. Mulch is the top layer above the soil about 2-3 in thickness either organic or inorganic in Landscape Beds, around plants, or trees. Aside from its decorative look it provides many benefits. It conserves water is its main functionality but prevents weeds and slowly feeds the soil. Mulch keeps sunlight from hitting the soil keeping the soil moist and preventing evaporation. With bare soil the evaporation is lost and the bare soil will cause the heat to build up. When the heat builds up you will begin to see plants wilt and looked stressed. Mulch also breaks down releasing nutrients that plants use. The exposure to the sunlight causes weed seeds to germinate but under the mulch keeps the weeds dormant. It also protects the roots during a cold-winter area. During the hot-summer months it protects the roots from the heat. Mulched plants tend to have more roots than plants that are not mulched. It also prevents soil compaction and erosion in certain circumstances. In fact mulching is one of the most popular lawn care services.
It can be purchased either in bags or in bulk. For those wondering, bags tend to be faster to put out but is a little more expensive than purchasing in bulk. When purchasing in bulk the material is usually less expensive but takes more time installing. You can purchase a chemical that can recolor the mulch but most people replace it.
Whenever you call grass cutting services, ask them to leave the shredded grass in the lawn as mulch. This can save you some bucks. But it’s always advised to buy proper mulch. Certain people have a problem with mulch washing out of beds. In this case your first option would be to install a border or something to hold the mulch in. A chemical can also be purchased which is like a “glue substance”. It comes in a spray tank and can be spray on top of the mulch locking it in place not allowing it to move.
Mulch varies in color from Natural look, brown, black, red, pea gravel, plastic, etc.
Examples of organic mulch are:
- Bark, shredded or chipped
- Straw
- Leaves, whole or shredded
- Grass Clippings
- Newspaper
- Composted Manure
- Sawdust
- Hay
Common Mulch Problems:
- Fungus
- Mold
- Sour smell
To check and see if mold exist peel back a few inches of mulch looking beneath the top layer in random areas. If you begin to see white spots then mold exists.
TO PREVENT WEEDS AND CAUSING HARM TO PLANTS, MULCH YOUR BEDS!!!
Tender Care Lawn Service is a family owned landscaping company established in 2004 in Sulphur, LA. Our land care services include lawn care, mosquito spraying, mini-excavator work, fertilization and weed control, sprinkler system programming and repair, shrub and hedge trimming, and landscape maintenance.
