Laying down mulch is one of the best things that you can do to help grow a healthy, vibrant, and efficient garden. It’s why there’s so much interest in the environmental benefits of using mulch in agriculture and landscaping. And best of all, it’s so simple anyone can do it.
At least, that’s how it seems. Yes, it might seem as straightforward as “shovel, dump, spread, and repeat”. Yet many homeowners struggle with laying mulch effectively.
If that describes your situation, here are three key tips to keep in mind.
1. Putting Down Mulch at the Right Time
Putting down mulch depends on more than getting good coverage around the base of your plants. To make the most efficient use of your time and investment, you want to make sure you’re putting down mulch at the best possible time.
In general, there are two optimal times of year to mulch your garden.
Doing it in the spring as seasonal showers roll in encourages the biomatter to start to break down. The nutrients from the decomposing mulch will penetrate the soils, keeping your plants healthy and vibrant. Plus, it will give your landscaping the fresh, clean look that you want throughout the spring and summer.
The other best time of year to mulch is in the autumn, as you prepare for the onset of winter. This will help insulate your plants from the damaging effects of the frosts to come.
It also helps to wait a little while after you’ve put in new plants before you mulch. This will help make sure none of your new additions get buried.
If that all seems like a lot, it’s why many homeowners defer to professionals when it comes to laying mulch. Not only do they know the technique, but they tend to keep an eye on seasonal weather patterns so that can the most optimal use of their work. For an example of these services these companies can provide, check out https://www.heartlandturf.com/leawood/
2. Put Down the Right Amount
When it comes to mulch, there can be too much of a good thing. At the same time, if you’re too stinging you won’t reap the benefits you’re looking for.
You need to find that golden mean, and to do that, you’ll have to do some calculations.
Mulch is usually sold by cubic foot. So to figure out how many cubic feet your flower beds are, and how deep a layer of mulch you plan to lay down.
Measuring your flower beds is self-explanatory, and garden experts recommend laying down 2 to 4 inches of mulch for most plants. So multiply the square footage of your area by the number of inches of mulch plan to put down. Then divide the result by 12 since a cubic foot of mulch will cover 12-square feet with about 1-inch of mulch.
3. Laying Mulch According to What You’re Growing
What you grow in your garden does impact the type of mulch you want to put down.
For vegetables, you need to turn the soil every season. This means heavier mulches made from wood bark and the like may be harder to work with. Opt for a lighter material like grass clipping, leaves, or cover plants like clover.
Further, for trees and flowers, you’ll want to remember to keep mulch about three inches away from the base of the plant to prevent so-called “mulch volcanoes”. These pileups around the base of your plants encourage rot and can become nesting places for mold and pests.
Learning How to Install Mulch for a Healthy Garden
We mentioned that laying mulch seems simple, at first glance. And with the right know-how, it can be as easy as it seems.
These three tips will help you make the most of your resources and maintain a healthy garden and yard year-round. But mulching is only the beginning. For all the tips you need to make your property the envy of the neighborhood, be sure to keep up with all our latest home and decor guides.
